Atom Submarine, New Plane For Britain

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28784, 3 January 1959, Page 11

Atom Submarine, New Plane For Britain

(ft.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.)' LONDON, January 1,

A new close support aircraft for the Royal Air Force, the TSR-2, is to be'developed jointly by two leading British aircraft companies and con tracts, are soon to be signed for Britain’s first atomic submarine, which will be bigger and faster than the American Nautilus.

The TSR-2 is a tactical and reconnaissance aircraft, capable of performing the roles of the' Canberra bomber. It has been designed' for limited operations and for close support of the Army. The submarine, which is to cost £2O million, will be called H.M.S. Dreadnought. Plans, for the rest of Britain’s underwater nuclear fleet will follow when contracts are signed next week in London and Washington for the submarine’s power unit.

The engine is being supplied by the United States under the exchange of atomic secrets agreement. It is being, built by the American Westinghouse Company, which built the Nautilus engine. The hull will be built at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Armstrongs. The Dreadnought will be ready tor sea trials by 1961. She will have a crew of about 70 and a submerged tonnage of about 4500 compared with the 4747 tons of the Nautilus. On active service, it may be armed with the American underwater missile Polaris, but this depends on a Cabinet decision. The Dreadnought has so impressed American naval architects that future United States nuclear submarines may incorporate features of the British design. * Joint Work on Plane 1 The “News Chronicle” says the new plane is the most ambitious aircraft project ever undertaken in Britain. English Electric's design had been chosen but Vickers would be the chief contractor, with the two firms sharing construction. The engine would be the Bristol Olympus. Prototype development, production and subsequent servicing would ensure work for the next 14 years at Warton. Lancashire and Bristol.

The development contract is worth about £5O million, according to the newspaper. The plane would be both fighter and bomber, able to operate at great heights and tree-top level. It would be able to take off from short, rough and ready airstrips.