The Trafalgar class of submarines incorporate the most advanced propulsion systems, sonar and navigation equipment available to the Royal Navy, and its sonar equipment is considered to be one of the finest units in the world navies.

The Trafalgar class, in common with other operational submarines in the Royal Navy, is covered by hundreds of rubber squares which help to reduce noise and sonar feedback. A more recent experiment has led to some of these tiles being painted various shades of blue as camouflage! However it is not as strange as it may seem as recent tests have shown that although SSNs are becoming quieter when they need to operate near to the surface (e.g. for covert surveillance, or to land special forces) it is possible for an aircraft to see a submarine. The shades of blue are supposed to help the SSN blend into the sea (which away from the coasts of Britain is actually of various shades of green and blue and not the black so common in Britain's sea-side!)

The SSN's primary role is as a hunter-killer, either against other submarines or surface vessels. However, they have two other combat roles: the laying of mines, and land-attack. Although no Trafalgar class submarine has yet been fitted with TLAM, the Royal Navy has stated that all its SSNs will be TLAM capable. This means that the Trafalgar class vessels will eventually be retrofitted with this powerful and very capable weapon.

SSNs have a unique ability to operate independently. Their nuclear powerplants ensure that they could, if they so wished, run under the surface permanently. The only limitation on the duration of their patrols would be stocks of food and water. However with careful planning RAS would be possible and this would allow the SSN to remain on patrol. Such meetings could be pre-arranged and so the amount of time the SSN would have to remain off-station for would be heavily reduced.

It is likely that SSNs will become more important as many powers are taking to submarines as a method of controlling the seas. With the demise of the USSR, Russia has developed a business in selling its submarines, and their technology. Iran has recently taken some Kilo class submarines, and it is rumoured that China has been given access to such technology.

The Kilo class submarines (which are also SSNs) are highly advanced and difficult to detect. To many countries, SSNs are a relatively cheap way of getting control over their seas. The Falkland's war showed that the mere threat of an SSN operating in an area of water can be enough to prevent a task-group going in. Some have suggested that SSNs are the new "capital ships" of the fleet: because they have the best chance of sinking a substantial portion of a taskgroup. A submarine is capable of striking at ships without betraying its presence.

The best way of countering this threat is to use another SSN in its classic "hunter-killer" approach. It is usual to send at least one SSN in ahead of a task group to help ensure that the waters are sanitised. (At least two SSNs are sent out with a United States Carrier Battle Group) Although the Royal Navy has some of the best ASW equipment in the world, the role of the SSN as a "cleanser" remains vital as it allows the surface vessels to concentrate on other tasks.

The Trafalgar class will continue in service for a considerable period of time: they are capable of being easily retro-fitted with the latest technology and so they should be able to remain effective units. In the medium term they will be joined by the new Astute class which was originally to be designated as a batch II Trafalgar class. However the alterations that have taken place has led to the decision being made that in reality it is more than an improved batch but a totally new class. When this class joins the fleet, the Royal Navy will have a very powerful, modern, SSN fleet. The Royal Navy has a reputation for having the best-trained submariners in the world (something that even the super-patriotic Tom Clancy admitted in his excellent book Submarine) and the Trafalgar class helps ensure that they have some of the best equipment at their disposal.

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