HMS Churchill (S46)

HMS Churchill (S46) was a British Royal Navy nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Churchill class. Laid down in 1967 and commissioned in 1970, she served throughout the Cold War. She was the lead boat of her class, which consisted of three submarines: Churchill, Conqueror, and Courageous.

Churchill was built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering in Barrow-in-Furness. Her design was influenced by the preceding Valiant class but incorporated significant improvements in silencing and sonar technology. The Churchill class were designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), hunting Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic and other strategic locations. They were also capable of conducting intelligence gathering operations.

Throughout her service life, Churchill participated in numerous patrols and exercises. Details of many of these missions remain classified. She was decommissioned in 1991 and subsequently laid up. Her nuclear reactor was defuelled and removed. Churchill is currently laid up awaiting final disposal.