Upholder Class

This Class was designed to replace the Oberon class SSK's, during the 1980's, up to 18 were planned. A scaled down version of the Trafalgar SSN's, later batches were planned with increased hull size and new sonars. However in 1993 defense cuts led to the class being decommissioned before they had even been in full service for a year.

There are two decks forward and a single deck machinery space aft. The hull is coated with tiles to cut down the sonar and acoustic signature.

Increased automation of the systems allows the crew numbers to be reduced to half that of similar sized post war submarines.

There were only four boats built and put into service.

These have now been sold to Canada. Lets hope they turn out to be as successful as was thought.

4 Built

Submarine	Builder	Built
Unicorn Unseen Upholder Ursula	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. Vickers (VSEL), Barrow-in-Furness. Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.	1992 1989-1991 1986-1990 1991

Technical Information

Displacement (tons):	1850 sf 2,400 sm
Length (mtr):	70.3 oa
Breadth (mtr)	7.2
Draught/Height (mtr):	7.6
Machinery:	Two Paxman -Valenta 16 RPA diesel generators. 4070 bhp. Two GEC 5000 kw. alternators, one shaft.
Speed (kts):	12 sf 20+ sm
Oil Supply (tons):	na
Armament:	6 x 21" TT, 18 torpedoes. Mk24, Tigerfish, Spearfish. Missiles: Sub Harpoon fired from TT.
Range:	Surface range 10,000 nm at 12kts.
Electronics:	Radar: Type 1007. Sonar: Type 2040 bow, Type 2007 flank,Type 2019 intercept, Type 2026 towed array.
Complement:	7 Officers 37 Others.
sm = submerged, sf = surfaced, oa = overall, hp = horsepower, na = not available.

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H.M. Submarine Unicorn.

Type:	'Hunter/Killer Submarine' SSK
Class	Upholder Class
Pennant No.:	S43
Builder	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.
Laid Down:	Not known at present.
Launched	1992.
Commissioned:	1993
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	7 Officers and 37 Ratings.
Fate:	Unicorn was paid off in 1995 due to the defence cuts and placed in mothballs at Barrow-in-Furness. Unicorn was sold to the Canadian Navy in 1998 and will be renamed Windsor.

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H.M. Submarine Unseen flying paying off pennant.

Type:	'Hunter/Killer Submarine' SSK
Class	Upholder Class
Pennant No.:	S41
Builder	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.
Laid Down:	Not known at present.
Launched	1989.
Commissioned:	1991.
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	7 Officers and 37 Ratings.
Fate:	Unseen was paid off in 1994 due to the defence cuts and placed in mothballs at Barrow-in-Furness. Unseen was sold to the Canadian Navy in 1998 and will be renamed Victoria.

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Upholder Class Submarine.

H.M. Submarine Upholder.

Type:	'Hunter/Killer Submarine' SSK
Class	Upholder Class
Pennant No.:	S40
Builder	Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness.
Laid Down:	1986.
Launched	2nd December 1986.
Commissioned:	9th June 1990.
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	7 Officers and 37 Ratings.
Fate:	Upholder was paid off in 1994 due to the defence cuts and placed in mothballs at Barrow-in-Furness. Upholder was sold to the Canadian Navy in 1998 and will be renamed Chicoutimi.

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H.M. Submarine Ursula.

Type:	'Hunter/Killer Submarine' SSK
Class	Upholder Class
Pennant No.:	S42
Builder	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.
Laid Down:	Not known at present.
Launched	Not known at present.
Commissioned:	1992.
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	7 Officers and 37 Ratings.
Fate:	Ursula was paid off in 1994 due to the defence cuts and placed in mothballs at Barrow-in-Furness. Ursula was sold to the Canadian Navy in 1998 and will be renamed Cornerbrook.

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