*British, 1963, HM Submarine Valiant (S102) – Two Original Photographs*
Two Original Photographs of HMS Valiant. These photographs originally formed part of the Lou Britton British Submarine Collection, which was acquired by the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport in 2007.
Approximate Dimensions:
Photograph 1: 25.4cm x 20.3cm
Photograph 2: 20.2cm x 20.5cm. Sticker on the reverse: “Copyright photograph by Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd. Barrow-In-Furness Cumbria. Neg. No. C/120/443/14. S1841”
HMS Valiant:
The sixth and most recent HMS Valiant was the second of Britain’s nuclear-powered submarines and the first of the two-unit Valiant class.
Ordered on 31 August 1960 and laid down on 22 January 1962 at Vickers-Armstrongs in Barrow-in-Furness, Valiant was designed by combining the forward section of Dreadnought with an aft section that housed British nuclear machinery, based on the Dounreay prototype. Launched on 3 December 1963 by Lady Thorneycroft, she entered service on 18 July 1966.
Valiant set a Royal Navy record in April 1967 – sailing 12.000 miles in 25 days, while fully submerged on a return journey from Singapore to Scotland.
Valiant underwent refits in 1970, 1977, and 1989. During a 1977 deployment in the eastern Mediterranean, she suffered a saltwater pipe leak that flooded the reactor compartment. After shutting down the reactor and pumping out the seawater, the compartment was cleaned and the reactor was brought back online. In 1982, Valiant participated in the Falklands War, providing over 300 early air-warning alerts during a 101-day patrol off Argentina’s coast. She also sustained minor damage when an Argentine fighter jettisoned its bombs near the submarine on 23 May. In 1991, Valiant ran aground in the North Norwegian Sea, and in June 1994, she was retired after engine issues, being decommissioned on 12 August. Her hull and reactor remain stored at Devonport Dockyard, awaiting long-term disposal of her radioactive components. Parts were removed to help restore the Courageous for display as a museum ship.
*Condition*
Very good used condition. 2nd photo has a small crease. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
RQMAEXBH_4221195540
