I am pleased to announce that the next generation of nuclear-armed submarines will be known as the Dreadnought Class, and that the first is to be named HMS DREADNOUGHT. Construction of the first submarine formally began on 5 October 2016.
Dreadnought is a name with an excellent historical pedigree, traditionally used for powerful and innovative ships and submarines at the leading edge of technology and is a fitting name both for the class and the first submarine of that class. There have been nine Royal Navy vessels of the name, the most recent being Britain’s first nuclear-powered submarine, launched on this day, Trafalgar Day, in 1960 following her build at Barrow. The new Dreadnought submarines continue Barrow’s long association with submarine construction.
These submarines, the first of which we expect to enter service in the early 2030s, will replace the current Vanguard Class submarines as the ultimate guarantee of our nation’s safety.
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