Royal Navy Bids Farewell to Last Cold War-Era Submarine after 34 Years of Service

The submarine arrived at Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth, marking the end of an era for the Cold War-era fleet. After serving for nearly 34 years, the nuclear-powered attack submarine will officially be decommissioned in early 2025.

Its arrival at Plymouth, escorted by tugboats and support vessels was a solemn and symbolic moment as Triumph flew her decommissioning pennant.

HMS Triumph was commissioned in 1991 and is the youngest of the seven Trafalgar-class submarines. She was built at Barrow-in-Furness and followed her sisters-HMS Talent, Tireless, Torbay, Trafalgar, Trenchant, and Turbulent-into service. Her career has been filled with notable achievements. In 1993, Triumph completed a record-breaking 41,000-mile submerged voyage to Australia without external support.

The submarine also played an essential role in major military operations including the Afghanistan war in 2001, where she launched Tomahawk missiles at strategic targets. Later, during the NATO-led mission in Libya, Triumph fired missiles to assist in disabling Muammar Gaddafi’s defences.

Before arriving in Plymouth, Triumph departed from Clyde Naval Base in Scotland. Submariners and support crews gathered to bid farewell to a submarine that had been a cornerstone of the Royal Navy’s fleet.

Rear Admiral Andy Perks, Director Submarine for the Royal Navy, discussed the importance of these vessels, calling them essential to national security for more than three decades. “The Trafalgar class has served with distinction, and their legacy will be remembered with pride,” he added. As the Trafalgar-class submarines retire, they are being replaced by the Astute-class fleet. These larger and more advanced submarines are designed to carry out diverse missions, from intelligence gathering to launching precision strikes.

Five Astute-class submarines namely- HMS Astute, Artful, Audacious, Ambush and Anson-are already in service with two more under construction.