§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the decision was taken to place all four Upholder class submarines in dry dock for repair; whether588W all four vessels will be dry-docked simultaneously; what is the expected timescale and cost of the repair work; and what is the total cost so far of the Upholder programme.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe arrangements for docking Upholder class submarines in order to correct a design fault in the submarines weapon handling and discharge system were decided in March 1990. The modification work necessarily involves placing the submarines in dry dock. Only three vessels will need to be modified; the fourth will be built to the modified design. They will not all be docked simultaneously. HMS Upholder will be docked early in 1992 and is due to be completed by the end of that year. HMS Unseen and Ursula are both due to be docked in early 1993 and should be completed by the end of that year. The cost of the modification work is between £7 million and £9 million. The total cost of the Upholder programme is expected to remain within the figure shown in table 3.2 of volume 2 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional facilities are planned at Rosyth to support the sea trials of the Vanguard class submarines.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleNo additional facilities are being provided at Rosyth solely to support the Vanguard class submarine sea trials. The docking facility (RD46) currently under construction is for use throughout the operational life of the Vanguard class submarine and could be used during sea trials if necessary.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on future plans for the British underwater test and evaluation centre.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleA study is being carried out into the value for money aspects of the British underwater test and evaluation centre. This study is a precursor to a wider-ranging review of Ministry of Defence test and evaluation facilities generally. Until that review is completed, I cannot comment on the future plans for any individual establishment.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the in-service dates of(a) Tigerfish Mod. 0, (b) Tigerfish Mod. 1 and (c) Tigerfish Mod. 2; whether each variant is still in service; and what changes have been made to (i) the planned role of each variant, (ii) design requirements for each variant, as issued to contractors and (iii) numbers of each variant ordered.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe in-service dates for the three Tigerfish torpedo variants were: Mod 0—1974; Mod 1—1980; Mod 2—1986. All current in-service Tigerfish torpedoes have been upgraded to Mod 2 standard. The Mod 0 was an anti-submarine weapon. The Mod 1 version added an anti-surface capability and the Mod 2 was the result of a consolidation programme to overcome technical shortcomings with the weapon. Appropriate design specification changes were issued to the prime contractor. Three hundred and sixty Mod 0 torpedoes and 300 Mod 1 torpedoes, including Mod 0s converted to Mod 1s, were ordered. Mod 2 torpedoes are conversions from the earlier Mod 0s and Mod 1s