A NUCLEAR-powered submarine's career began with an ignominious start only an hour after it was launched - as it lay stranded on a sandbank.
HMS Repulse, which cost £55m to build, was the third Resolution class submarine to be built and launched in Barrow on November 4, 1967.
Before it was put to sea, the launch was marred by protests between members of the CND and Barrow police.
Protesters staged a sit-in on Bridge Road to hamper the arrival of Lady Joan Zuckerman, who was to launch the vessel.
On the stroke of noon, champagne exploded against the bow of Repulse and it glided down the slipway into the water.
However, for the first time in the shipyard's history, the vessel became stuck on a sandbank leaving it stranded in Walney Channel.
It would take until 12.45am the following morning before the tide would allow the Repulse to sail away from Barrow.
After an embarrassing start to life, the Repulse went on to be the longest-serving submarine in its class, being decommissioned in 1996 after 29 years at sea.
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