Engineers mark 100 years of supplying periscopes

Engineers have marked a century as the sole supplier of periscopes to the Royal Navy.

Glasgow-based Thales delivered the first of the submarine observation instruments, the FY1, to the M3 vessel in late summer 1917.

Since then, every naval warfare force’s submarines has been fitted with a periscope or optronics mast designed and built by the company.

Harriett Baldwin, defence procurement minister, said: “This anniversary marks a proud record of Scottish engi- neering contributing directly to UK defence and national security by providing the eyes and ears for our nuclear deterrent and attack submarines.”

The firm’s site at Govan employs around 600 people, mainly highly skilled technical and engineering jobs.

The workforce designs and builds optronics systems for theroyalnavy,armyandroyal Air Force.

Thales’ optronics masts support submarines’ navigation, warfare and communications systems – including thermal imaging and night vision capabilities.