Hearing on the news last night, the MoD have decided to axed the almighty T boats ( Call them Tigger since they bounced off the sea bed). I aven't kept up with the UK news for a while but this is what I know from when I was serving, please correct me and before you start, I think this is publci domain any how;
Ok we still have the S and the V boats. Not too sure how the RN is gonna swing this but we still have enough subs to operate, guess they are cutting back on fuel, maintenance etc. I Know the T's have been in and out of dry dock a few times, how ever, they have also been bouncing off iceburgs and the sea bed more than a good few times over the past few years
Don't worry though, they announced the T's decommission but they will still be in service, my guessing until 2019. It takes along time to weed out our RN's ships and boats!
But keep in mind that the RN is about to launch the Astute (SSN), Which if I remember is to replace the Swiftsure class. The Astute class weapons load will be alot higher and should stand at 50% greater than T boats (Trafalger) Class boats.This should include ( again if I am correct) a number of weapons,Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles etc
If I am correct, the below sonar is already active on 4 of the T boats;
The Asute class will be fitted with the 2076 sonar, both passive and active operations or another way, search and attack
Also towed arrays.
Countermeasures systems will include Electronic Support Measures obv. decoys (ESM). For the ESM system this will bring onboard the UAP(4). UAP(4) has two passive/active antenna arrays which are mounted on the two non-hull masts.
The Asutes are amodern and update version boat and therefore the RN won'/t be losing anything by axing the T boat but gaining.