FIRING missiles into Afghanistan and running aground off the coast of Scotland were just two of the events that marked one Barrow-built submarine's life.

HMS Trafalgar, laid down in April 1979 was the first of a new class of submarine.

Nuclear-powered, the Trafalgar class was a successor to the previous Swiftsure class, carrying an updated reactor.

Read part one of the story of Britain's first nuclear submarine HMS Dreadnought.

After being completed in 1983, HMS Trafalgar went on to have an eventful life during her near 30 year spell at sea.

The vessel ran aground off the Isle of Skye twice, once in 1996 and again in 2002.

The second incident caused £5 millon of damage and saw two officers court martialled.

During the war in Afghanistan, Trafalgar was one of the first submarines to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles into the country.

In 2008 information on HMS Trafalgar was one of the boats that submariner Edward Devennney tried to pass on to the Russians.

After more than 26 years Trafalgar was decommissioned at HMNB Devonport, in Plymouth.

Read part two in the story of the life of HMS Dreadnought.