Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines HMS Talent and HMS Trenchant were decommissioned at Devonport Naval Base on 20 May.

HMS Trenchant’s operational career came to an end last year, while HMS Talent completed its final patrol earlier this spring.

Both boats served for 32 years with distinction. As hunter-killer submarines, it was their mission to protect first Polaris, now Trident – the country’s Strategic Nuclear Deterrent – and to detect, track and classify targets.

The boats are capable of gaining intelligence, covertly inserting troops ashore, or striking at enemy submarines and ships with Spearfish torpedoes and targets ashore with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The Trafalgar-class submarines have been replaced by the seven Astute-class submarines.

Four Astutes have been commissioned, soon to be joined by number five, HMS Anson, which has completed successful diving checks.