HMS ''Repulse'' (S23) was a

ballistic missile submarine A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. These submarines became a major weapon system in the Cold War because of their nuclear deterrence capabi ...

of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

History

HMS ''Repulse'' was one of two ''Resolution''-class ballistic missile submarines ordered from Vickers-Armstrongs on 8 May 1963, with a further two ordered from

Cammell Laird Cammell Laird is a British shipbuilding company. It was formed from the merger of Laird Brothers of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century. The company also built railway rolling stock until 1929, ...

the same day. ''Repulse'' was laid down at Vickers Armstrongs'

Barrow-in-Furness Barrow-in-Furness is a port town and civil parish (as just "Barrow") in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in the county of Lancashire, it was incorporated as a municipal borou ...

shipyard on 12 March 1965 and was launched on 4 November 1967,Blackman 1971, p. 335. She was launched by Lady Joan Zuckerman who was the wife of the Chief Scientific Advisor. Repulse ran aground in the

Walney Channel The Walney Channel separates Walney Island from the British mainland. The northern portion of the channel opens into the Duddon Estuary and is both narrower and shallower. The southern half of the channel is wider and is regularly dredged to allo ...

during the launch, although she was undamaged and successfully floated off on the next high tide.Hennessey and Jinks 2016, pp. 249–250. She commissioned on 28 September 1968.Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 531. While she was planned to be the third of her class, delays with the build of at

Birkenhead Birkenhead () is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. The town is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liverpool. It lies within the Historic counties of England, historic co ...

shipyard meant that ''Repulse'' overtook ''Renown'' and was commissioned second of class.Hennessey and Jinks 2016, pp. 251–252. She was the last of her class remaining in service with the navy, decommissioning in 1996.

Appearances in media

HMS Repulse was joined by a

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

film crew for a deployment in 1984. The crew documented the effect of the 8 week long deployment on both the crew, and family members on land. The program was broadcast in

February February is the second month of the year in the Julian calendar, Julian and Gregorian calendars. The month has 28 days in common years and 29 in leap years, with the February 29, 29th day being called the ''leap day''. February is the third a ...

1985, as part of a 6 film series documenting the

Royal Navy Submarine Service The Royal Navy Submarine Service is one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. It is sometimes known as the Silent Service, as submarines are generally required to operate undetected. The service operates six fleet submarines ( SSNs), ...

Citations

References

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External links

Submariners Association Barrow-in-Furness Branch
{{DEFAULTSORT:Repulse (S23) Resolution-class submarines Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness 1967 ships Cold War submarines of the United Kingdom