*British, 1967, HM Submarine Resolution (S22) – Three Original Photographs – one with Crown Copyright*
Three Original Photographs of Submarine HMS Resolution. 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:
Picture 1: 22.2cm x 20.8cm. Stamped on the reverse: “22 May 1968”. Handwritten in pen: “P.O. Bob Braithwaite centre and some of the crew of HMS Resolution with the Savoy Cake.” “889”
Picture 2: 20.6cm x 16.4cm. Front marked for crops. Reverse stamped “9 Apr 1969.” Stamped: Daily Express Wire Photo Glasgow, 18 Apr 1969. 0115.” Stuck over the top “C.S.– PTC. L.40.D.18. To:- The Art Editor CQ. Sub. “Resolution”. (2 1-2 Cols X 1 3-4″ — Page 2) (Copy) – End M –“
Picture 3: 25.3cm x 20.5cm. Typed on the reverse: “A. 35105. British Official Photograph: Ministry of Defence (Navy). Crown Copyright Reserved. Issued for British Information Services by Photographs Division, Central Office of Information, London. Navy’s First Polaris Submarine Commissioned Today (Oct 2nd). “She handled like a real lady…” that was the comment of Commander M.C. Henry when H.M.S. Resolution returned from her recent Atlantic Trials. Resolution, first of Britain’s Polaris submarine fleet, will be handed over to the Royal Navy at the commissioning today (October 2nd) at the Barrow Yard of the Vickers Shipbuilding Group. She is over 400 feet long and has a beam of more than 30 feet: is armed with 16 A-£ Polaris missiles, with British warheads, capable of being delivered with extreme accuracy at a range of 2,500 nautical miles. Resolution will have two crews of 13 Officers and 125 Ratings and the crews will take turn and turn about on the schedule of two-monthly patrols. Aerial picture of H.M.S. Resolution returning from her recent sea trials in the Atlantic to prepare for today’s commissioning. September 1967.”
HMS Resolution (S22) was the first of the Royal Navy’s Resolution-class ballistic missile submarines, serving from 1968 to 1994 as part of the UK’s Polaris nuclear deterrent.
Ordered in May 1963, she was built by Vickers Armstrong at a cost of £40.2 million. Her keel was laid on 26 February 1964, and she was launched on 15 September 1966 by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. After extensive trials, including a successful Polaris missile launch on 15 February 1968, she began her first patrol on 14 June 1968. Resolution was the first Royal Navy submarine to operate with two dedicated crews on a continuous patrol system.
During her service, Resolution was updated with the Chevaline IFE system in 1984, enhancing her Polaris missile system. She completed the longest Polaris patrol in 1991, remaining at sea for 108 days. Although there were rumours of her use during the Falklands War, in reality, she was focused on evading Soviet submarines during her patrols. Decommissioned in October 1994 after 69 patrols, Resolution was laid up at Rosyth Dockyard, where she remains, awaiting further disposal plans.
*Condition*
Excellent used condition. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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