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Fleet Submarines
HMS Talent

HMS Talent

HMS Talent - a technically advanced, nuclear powered ‘hunter-killer’ submarine. HMS Talent is the penultimate platform of seven Trafalgar Class submarines. Launched by HRH Princess Anne in Barrow in Furness in 1988 the Submarine has conducted operations all around the world. The principal role of the ‘hunter-killer’ is to attack ships and other submarines. In this capacity they could support and protect a convoy or taskforce.

HMS Talent

  • HMS Talent

  • HMS Talent

  • HMS Talent

  • HMS Talent

  • HMS Talent

Additionally Talent can be used in a surveillance role as she is fitted with cameras and thermal imaging periscopes. Talent is also fitted with Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) which gives the boat a land attack role.

Talent is currently in her home port of Devonport in Plymouth conducting a deep maintenance period where she will emerge with an enhanced equipment capability early in 2012.

COMMANDING OFFICER

John Aitken

John Aitken
RANK:
Commander
JOINED:
SPECIALISATION:
Warfare
PREVIOUS UNITS:
Military experience

John Aitken was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1969. After reading English Language and Literature at Birmingham he joined the Royal Navy as a Direct Graduate Entry, General List, Seaman Officer.

Following basic training and fleet time he volunteered for service in submarines and joined HMS Dolphin in early 1995. He qualified as a submariner in HMS Sceptre and was the Casing Officer there until being fortunate enough to attend the last Initial Staff Course at Royal Naval College Greenwich in the summer of 1997.

Intermediate Warfare Course followed immediately afterwards and then two years as Signals Communications Officer in HMS Victorious (port). After completing Advanced Warfare Course in 2000 John joined HMS Superb as the Tactical Systems Officer which was followed by two years as Operations Officer in HMS Sceptre.

Successfully completing the Submarine Command Course in 2005 he was then appointed as Executive Officer of HMS Superb remaining with her until her decommissioning in 2008.

Latterly he has enjoyed a posting with the United States Navy as the RN Exchange Officer at COMSUBDEVRON 12 in Connecticut during which he was selected for promotion to Commander and for sea command. John took command of HMS Talent in July 2011.


LATEST NEWS

 

TOP STORIES

20110609_Barrow 50-mile Challenge 2011
Royal Navy Submariners Scoop Long-Distance Run Trophy
09 June 2011

A team of Plymouth-based Royal Navy sailors have won a...

View all Talent's News

ABOUT THE UNIT

KEY STATISTICS


Pennant

S92

Displacement (Dived)

5,298Tonnes

Displacement (Surfaced)

4,740Tonnes

Complement

130Personnel

Length

85.4Metres

Beam

9.8Metres

Draught

9.5Metres

Top Speed

32Knots

Eggs used last deployment

22,000

Launch Date

15/04/88

Commissioned Date

12/05/90

TAKE A LOOK

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      20110609_Barrow 50-mile Challenge 2011

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      HMS Talent

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      HMS Talent

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      HMS Talent

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      HMS Talent

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      HMS Talent

UNITS IN TIME


HMS Talent HISTORY

TRACK THE HISTORY OF SHIPS NAMED HMS Talent
  • The First Two Talents

    There have been four Royal Navy vessels to be named Talent, all submarines – though the reality is a little more complicated than that. The first Talent was a T-boat, laid down by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow in mid-October 1942, but before she was launched on July 17 the following year she was transferred to the Dutch Navy as the Zwaardvisch (Swordfish), and saw service under the command of Lt Cdr Goosens in the North Sea, the Med and the Far East, sinking U-168 in the Java Sea on October 6 1944 as well as numerous smaller vessels. That same year another Talent was ordered, but as the fortunes of war swung in the Allies’ favour she was cancelled the following year. So, two Talents down, but neither flying a White Ensign – the first to do so actually started life as HMS Tasman.

  • The Third Talent

    She was launched on February 13 1945, but her name was changed to Talent in April the same year, before she was commissioned, as the Admiralty wanted the name Talent perpetuated in the Service. This Talent had a mixed career, but was instrumental in helping develop the Ship’s Inertial Navigation System in 1948, essential to modern nuclear boats, and was later streamlined and modernized. For this she embarked a team of scientists from the Admiralty Compass Laboratory while on passage back from the far East, and the boffins conducted an innovative gravitational survey of the English Channel.

  • Four People Killed

    She was also swept out of dry dock at Chatham in 1954 when the dock gate lifted, killing four people. She spent the latter part of her career in the Mediterranean before being paid off in 1966, sold in January 1970 and broken up later the same year at Troon.

Current Jobs

Defence Technical Non Grade Scheme (Marine Engineering)

The engineering branch includes weapons  marine and air engineering. Marine Engineers manage the repair and maintenance of the ships electrical and mechanical systems alongside and at sea.  Later in your career you will become involved in the procurement and building...
More info

Marine Engineering Grad Entry

The Engineering Branch includes weapons, marine and air engineering. Marine Engineers manage the repair and maintenance of the ships mechanical and hydraulic systems alongside and at sea. Later in your career you will become involved in the procurement and building of...
More info

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