Don’t scrap Dreadnought, put landmark nuclear submarine on public display

Permission has been given to break up all the redundant nuclear submarines at Rosyth Dockyard, an idea which I am sure will get universal approval. In my humble opinion, however, there should be an exception to the rule – HMS Dreadnought should be saved for the nation.

She was the UK’S first nuclear-powered submarine, launched by Queen Elizabeth in 1960 and she was commissioned into service in 1963. Until 1980 she was the first nuclear submarine to surface at the North Pole and the first to sail underwater all the way to Singapore. The submarine crew were all handpicked because they were experienced submariners, trained to cope with days under water.

HMS Dreadnought was the first nuclear submarine to have a re-fuel in Britain, which was done at Rosyth Dockyard to the great credit of the workforce, many of them from the Fife area.

Rosyth Dockyard went on to refit/refuel all the Polaris nuclear submarines three times over, with all the work done on time. It was therefore a national disgrace that the Trident nuclear submarines refit/refuel did not follow suit at Rosyth. HMS Dreadnought should be kept at Rosyth Dockyard; more so if it is going to be developed as a tourist attraction (this would need the support of prominent politicians in Scotland) as it would provide immense social history and be of great education value to children and adults alike. It would also save money by not having to be broken up and once the core barrel has been removed (the fuel rods have already been removed) it would be perfectly clear of radiation. The move would provide jobs and visitors’ fees could go towards the maintenance of the Dreadnought.

In previous years we have had the Cutty Sark, HMS Victory and many more vessels put on display, so why not one from our nuclear age? This would commemorate the tremendous work done on the Polaris submarines by the workforce from Scotland.