HMS Courageous (S50) facts for kids
Decommissioned HMS Courageous
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Courageous |
| Laid down | 15 May 1968 |
| Launched | 7 March 1970 |
| Commissioned | 16 October 1971 |
| Decommissioned | 10 April 1992 |
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| Fate | Museum ship |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Churchill-class submarine |
| Displacement | 4,900 tonnes (submerged) |
| Length | 86.9 m (285 ft 1 in) |
| Beam | 10.1 m (33 ft 2 in) |
| Draught | 8.2 m (26 ft 11 in) |
| Propulsion | One nuclear reactor, one shaft |
| Speed | 28 knots (52 km/h) submerged |
| Complement | 103 |
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HMS Courageous (S50) was a special type of submarine. It was a nuclear-powered fleet submarine. The Royal Navy used it for many years, starting in 1971. This submarine belonged to the Churchill class.
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A Look at HMS Courageous
Submarines like Courageous were designed to be fast and stealthy. They could travel long distances underwater. This made them very useful for different navy missions. Courageous was powered by a nuclear reactor. This allowed it to stay underwater for a long time. It did not need to refuel often.
Its Role in History
In 1982, Courageous played a part in a big event. It was sent with a British task force to the Falkland Islands. This was during a conflict to take the islands back. Its sister ship, HMS Conqueror, was also there. Courageous returned home safely later that year. It did not suffer any damage during the conflict.
From Warship to Museum
After years of service, Courageous was retired. It was decommissioned on April 10, 1992. This means it was taken out of active duty. Instead of being scrapped, Courageous was chosen for a new role. It became a museum ship at Devonport Dockyard. This allows people to visit and learn about it.
Why Courageous Became a Museum
The decision to make Courageous a museum was carefully made. Another submarine, HMS Valiant, was considered first. However, Valiant had its nuclear reactor removed. This process caused a lot of damage to the submarine's appearance. Because of this, Courageous was picked instead. It was in better shape to represent the nuclear submarine fleet. Parts from HMS Valiant were even used to help restore Courageous. This helped make Courageous look its best for visitors. It now helps tell the story of the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines during the Cold War.
