TNAG-0537-FCO40-632-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 59

CONFIDENTIAL

2ND DRAFT

A further small Royal Marines detachment is based on the Falkland Islands.

ROYAL NAVAL SHIPS, AIRCRAFT AND EQUIPMENT

The status of major programmes for 1975-76 is as follows:

11.

a.

New Construction

(i) Cruisers

HMS Invincible, the first of the new class of anti-

submarine cruisers, is under construction by Messrs Vickers.

She will have a standard displacement of 16,000 tons and

accommodation to the latest standards for 1,000 officers

and men. The new cruisers will be the largest gas-turbine

propelled ships in the world.

(ii) Nuclear-Powered Fleet Submarines

The seventh and eighth nuclear Fleet submarines,

HMS Swiftsure and HMS Sovereign, have entered service.

These are the first of a new submarine class, capable of

deeper diving and greater speed than the previous Valiant

Three more Fleet submarines are under construction,

and a twelfth is planned to be ordered during the year 7.

class.

(iii) Destroyers and Frigates

HMS Sheffield, the first of the new Type 42 guided-missile

destroyers, has entered service and will be followed this

year by HMS Birmingham. The first Type 21 frigate,

HMS Amazon, has entered service, and three more are to be

accepted this year. The first of the new Type 22 frigates

was ordered early in 1974 and is currently under construction

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CONFIDENT LAL