Nuclear Power Transfer

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32030, 3 July 1969, Page 13

Nuclear Power Transfer

' (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— CopuriflhtJ LONDON, July 2. The British Ministry of Defence has announced that it has transferred the nation’s nuclear strikeforce from bombers to Polaris submarines, thus ending a role the Royal Air Force’s V-bombers have held for 12 years.

The bombers, which’ have been ready to take to the air at a moment’s notice, will stand down as a nuclear force, but will take on an undisclosed tactical role. The British nuclear force is now poised to strike from beneath the sea. Two nuclear submarines, the Repulse and the Resolution, each carrying 16 Polaris missiles—together providing more destructive power than was used In both world wars—are already operational; and they are to be joined soon by a third, the Renown.

The Ministry of Defence

would not say when the change-over took place, but it has been known for some time that the move would be made before the end of the year. Two successive Government White Papers had indicated that ■ a hand-over would take place, and in a defence debate in Parliament last year the Minister of Defence (Mr Denis Healey) said that from September of this year, the third of four

Polaris submarines would become operational. This, he said, would make < Britain the only European nuclear power committing > such awesome capability exclusively to the service of i the NA.T.O. alliance. Seven nuclear fleet sub- : marines will eventually be 1 brought into service. The Revenge will be the fourth Polaris submarine, and three Hunters, the Churchill, launched last December, and

the Valiant and Warspite, now under construction, will complete the fleet. Each Polaris submarine costs £s2m and carries 16 missiles costing £400,000 each. The Renown will soon testfire a Polaris missile off Cape Kennedy, Florida. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said in London tonight that she would arrive off the United States on July 12 for trials.