Last updated at 17:08, Friday, 21 September 2012

THE fate of Britain’s first nuclear submarine could be decided next year.

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FIRST NUCLEAR SUB: The launch of Dreadnought on October 21 in 1960

Barrow-built HMS Dreadnought is among 27 Royal Nuclear submarines due to be decommissioned in the next few years.

The Ministry of Defence is expected to release a report early in 2013 following a consultation on what to do with the boats following their decommissioning.

A spokeswoman for the MoD said she could not confirm whether boats would be sold off or broken up following the decommissioning process, but said breaking up the boats could be a ‘feasible solution’.

HMS Dreadnought was the first nuclear submarine built in Barrow and was launched by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in October 1960.

The £20m sub was hailed as a great step forward in naval history and the 3,600-tonne vessel spent 20 years in the navy before being taken out of active service in 1980. It is based at Rosyth docks, in Fife, along with a number of other submarines until their fates are decided.

The Vanguard class submarines are also due to be included in the report, despite remaining in service.

Campaigners have said a possible return to Barrow for HMS Dreadnought following decommissioning would be a huge boost to the town.

All boats included in the report are due to be decommissioned by 2050.

Ken Collins, a former chief marine engineering mechanic who saw action in the Falklands conflict, is a member of Barrow Submariners Association. He said: “If we had the chance to get her down it would be nice, it would be something for visitors.

“They have done this with HMS Courageous – she’s open to visitors who can look around.

“The Americans and Russians have done things like this too. It’d be a huge visitor attraction – it’d be fantastic. If we could have her in a dock of some kind it’d be a great flag waver for the town.”

First published at 16:18, Friday, 21 September 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk