
They were behemoths dedicated to protecting Great Britain from foreign threats during the Cold War.

But now seven decommissioned Royal Navy nuclear submarines face a sad ending as they await being dismantled at Rosyth dockyard in Scotland.

They include the HMS Dreadnought, the UK's first nuclear-powered submarine that was commissioned in 1963 and served until 1980, when damaged machinery and limited availability of refit facilities caused her to be retired.

Four other submarines awaiting their end are HMS Resolution, HMS Repulse, HMS Renown and HMS Revenge, which were all part of the Polaris programme, carrying 16 nuclear missiles each, and serving from 1968 to 1996 when they were replaced by Trident.

Work is set to begin on dismantling seven Royal Navy submarine, pictured, some of which have been out of service for decades, at Rosyth dockyard in Scotland

They include the HMS Resolution, HMS Repulse, HMS Renown and HMS Revenge, pictured in the foreground, which were part of the UK's first nuclear deterrent, the Polaris system, each carrying 16 nuclear missiles

The submarines also include the HMS Churchill and HMS Swiftsure, pictured right, which entered service in 1968 and 1971 respectively until they were retired in 1991 and 1992 respectively

The vessels are seven of 19 Royal Navy submarines that are expected to be dismantled and disposed of by 2040, with a new fleet of Dreadnought-class nuclear submarines to be built by 2028

The other two vessels are the fleet submarines HMS Churchill, which served from 1968 to 1991, and HMS Swiftsure, part of the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1992.

Britain's current Trident nuclear deterrent is due to be upgraded with a new fleet of Dreadnought-class submarines to be built by 2028, after MPs voted to in favour of the new vessels last July.

The ships have spent years waiting to be dismantled, with HMS Dreadnought out of service for almost four decades.

The submarines include the HMS Dreadnought, pictured in Barrow-on-Furness where it was built in the early 1960s. It was the Royal Navy's first nuclear-powered submarine

The Dreadnought was even toured by Princess Anne, pictured with Commander Graham Rogers, and served in the Navy between 1963 and 1980

The Dreadnought, interior pictured, has been waiting to be dismantled for 37 years but problems have arisen over the cost and location as well as a lack of experts able to deal with disposing of radioactive material

There are 19 nuclear-powered submarines stored in ports awaiting their end, but a lack of money, disposal sites and radiation experts has caused lengthy delays.

Last October the Ministry of Defence admitted it could take until 2040 to completely dispose of the retired fleet.

MOD chiefs told MPs an underground dump site was required to store the nuclear material, which is expected to be a site in Cheshire, but it will not be finished for another 23 years.