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Royal Navy - 1983

By 1983 the UK had the mightiest navy in Europe. It was assigned an important role in implementing the aggressive designs of the country and NATO. The UK Navy includes 147 combat ships (4 SSBN, 12 nuclear powered and 16 diesel submarines; 3 ASW aircraft carriers; 4 guided missile cruisers; 8 guided missile destroyers; 18 guided missile frigates; 25 frigates; 8 small ASW ships; 8 landing ships; and 41 mine-sweepers); 9 patrol craft; 58 minor landing craft; more than 200 auxiliary ships and boats; up to 30 V-STOL aircraft; more than 120 ASW and troop carrier helicopters; and approximately 180 utility aviation aircraft and helicopters. Personnel strength was 74,200.

The Conservative Thatcher Government was stepping up military preparations. Particular attention was being paid to further improving nuclear weapons and qualitatively improving the ship fleet by commissioning new, modern submarines and ships of various classes. Refitting the "Resolution" class nuclear missile submarines was being implemented in accordance with the "Chevaline" program. In place of the Polaris-3 missile (with dispersing nose cone having three warheads of 200 kilotons), the Polaris-A3TK missile was being installed (dispersing MIRV type nose cone with six individually targetable warheads of 40 kilotons).

In connection with the end of the maximum service life of these SSBN (25 years) in the early 1990's, a decision had been made to replace them with new submarines carrying Trident-2 missiles. Construction of four or five 10,000-12,000 ton displacement SSBN was proposed.

In 1982 the Navy commissioned the nuclear powered submarine, S107 Trafalgar, the first of six planned for construction. Three others are in various stages of construction. A submarine was being developed under the new Project 2,400 to replace "Oberon" and "Porpoise" class submarines. Nuclear powered submarines were expected to be armed with Harpoon anti-ship missiles during the 1980's.

In 1987 the ASW aircraft carrier R06 Illustrious ("Invincible" class); two guided missile destroyers ("Sheffield" class); a guided missile frigate ("Broadsword" class); and two mine hunter-sweepers ("Brecon" class) were commissioned. By 1988, construction of a third "Invincible" class ASW aircraft carrier; four guided missile destroyers ("Sheffield" class); four guided missile frigates ("Broadsword" class); five mine hunter-sweepers ("Brecon" class); and a second patrol ship ("Leeds Castle" class) was underway.

The Project 23 frigate was being developed to replace the "Linder" class ship. Great attention was being paid to ship modernization. Five submarines (three "Oberon" class and two "Porpoise" class); the Fife guided missile cruiser; and four "Linder" class frigates were refitted in 1982. During refitting the Exocet anti-ship missile, Sea Wolf air defense missile, and new electronic equipment were installed.

The experience of naval participation in combat operations in the area of the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands during the Anglo-Argentine conflict would have substantial influence on the UK Navy's shipbuilding program. Thus, an additional order had already been placed to build five "Broadsword" class guided missile frigates to replace sunken ships.