All four boats were based at HM Naval Base Clyde (HMS Neptune), west of Glasgow, Scotland. The Resolution class was the launch platform for the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent from the late 1960s until 1996, when it was replaced by the carrying the Trident II. ==Background== During the 1950s and early 1960s, the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent was based on the RAF's V-bombers.
All four boats were based at HM Naval Base Clyde (HMS Neptune), west of Glasgow, Scotland. The Resolution class was the launch platform for the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent from the late 1960s until 1996, when it was replaced by the carrying the Trident II. ==Background== During the 1950s and early 1960s, the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent was based on the RAF's V-bombers.
But in the early 1960s developments in radar and surface-to-air missiles made it clear that bombers were becoming vulnerable, and would be unlikely to penetrate Soviet airspace.
Free-fall nuclear weapons would no longer be a credible deterrent. To address this problem, in May 1960 the British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan arranged a deal with US President Eisenhower to equip the V bombers with the US-designed AGM-48 Skybolt.
He wanted to bring the UK into a dual-key arrangement. McNamara first broached the idea of cancelling Skybolt with the British in November 1962.
The SSBNs would then take over the nuclear deterrent role from the RAF's V bombers from 1968 onwards. ==Construction== Two pairs of the boats were ordered in May 1963 from Vickers Shipbuilding Ltd, Barrow in Furness and from Cammell Laird and Co.
They were built by Vickers Armstrong in Barrow-in-Furness and Cammell Laird in Birkenhead between 1964 and 1968.
The option of buying a fifth unit, planned as , was cancelled in February 1965 as a cost-savings measure by the government of Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
After commissioning in 1967 she underwent a long period of sea trials, culminating in the test firing of a Polaris missile from the USAF Eastern Test Range off Cape Kennedy at 11:15 on 15 February 1968.
They were built by Vickers Armstrong in Barrow-in-Furness and Cammell Laird in Birkenhead between 1964 and 1968.
The SSBNs would then take over the nuclear deterrent role from the RAF's V bombers from 1968 onwards. ==Construction== Two pairs of the boats were ordered in May 1963 from Vickers Shipbuilding Ltd, Barrow in Furness and from Cammell Laird and Co.
After commissioning in 1967 she underwent a long period of sea trials, culminating in the test firing of a Polaris missile from the USAF Eastern Test Range off Cape Kennedy at 11:15 on 15 February 1968.
Resolution commenced her first operational patrol on 15 June 1968, beginning 28 years of Polaris patrols.
The class were part of the 10th Submarine Squadron, all based at Faslane Naval Base, Scotland. All four of the class underwent conversion during the 1980s so that they could be fitted with the Polaris A3TK missile which was fitted with the British-developed Chevaline MRV system. As the newer Vanguard-class submarines entered service, the Resolution class was eventually retired and all boats laid up at Rosyth dockyard with their used nuclear fuel removed.
All four boats were based at HM Naval Base Clyde (HMS Neptune), west of Glasgow, Scotland. The Resolution class was the launch platform for the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent from the late 1960s until 1996, when it was replaced by the carrying the Trident II. ==Background== During the 1950s and early 1960s, the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent was based on the RAF's V-bombers.
This project will begin in 2016 with as the first submarine to prove the technique.
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