Keith Foulger
Keith Foulger | |
---|---|
Born | London University Royal Naval College, Greenwich | 14 May 1925
Occupation | Engineer |
Spouse | Joyce Hart |
Children | One son and one daughter |
Engineering career | |
Discipline | Naval architecture |
Institutions | Royal Corps of Naval Constructors |
Projects | Porpoise-class submarines Explorer-class submarines HMS Dreadnought Valiant-class submarines Trafalgar-class submarines HMS Victory restoration |
Keith Foulger (14 May 1925 – 24 May 2021) was a British naval architect. As a child he aspired to a career as a Royal Navy officer but failed the eyesight requirements and so started a career in naval architecture. Foulger joined the
After Dreadnought was completed in 1960 Foulger worked on the Valiant-class, the first entirely British-designed-and-built nuclear submarines. The two Valiant-class boats were launched by 1965; Foulger then served as a chief constructor for a number of surface vessels and in staff roles. He returned to submarine projects in 1973, overseeing the construction of the six Swiftsure-class submarines. He afterwards oversaw the design of the seven Trafalgar-class submarines and the construction of the first two of these vessels. From 1979 to 1983 Foulger had responsibility for the construction of all Royal Navy submarines including, for the first time, the ballistic missile vessels. This included the very early stages of the Vanguard-class submarine designs. From 1983 until his retirement in 1985 Foulger was Director of Naval Construction. In retirement he worked for ten years as chief naval architect for the restoration work on HMS Victory.
Early life and career
Keith Foulger was born in Colchester, Essex on 14 May 1925.
From 1950 to 1954 Foulger was at the RCNC facility in
Dreadnought project
From the late 1940s the
To access American technical information Foulger had to deal with Vice Admiral Hyman G. Rickover who was in charge of the US Navy's nuclear submarine programme. Rickover was difficult to work with as he had opposed the sharing of information with the British and Foulger initially found his efforts were obstructed by Rickover. Foulger eventually got the information he needed, in part because the role allowed him to wear the uniform of a Royal Navy commander, Foulger's first uniformed role. He considered that the uniform played a key part in winning the respect and cooperation of US Navy engineering officers.[2] Dreadnought, launched in 1960, was three times larger than conventionally-powered British submarines. It featured innovations unique to the British such as torpedo tubes able to work at greater depth than those in the Skipjack class, a bridge fin positioned further aft and improved welding practices. These latter changes made the Dreadnought more stable at high speed than the Skipjacks.[2]
Later roles
After the completion of the Dreadnought project in 1960 Foulger moved to the team responsible for the design and construction of the Valiant-class submarines. These were the first wholly British nuclear submarines, having British designed and built nuclear reactors (the Rolls-Royce PWR).[1][2] With more control over the design the team could follow traditional British submarine building practice and produced a design that was simpler than Dreadnought and had a stronger hull.[1] Foulger helped naval architect R. J. Daniel select nickel aluminium bronze as the material for the class's hull valves. These had previously been made from gunmetal but the new material was assessed to have better strength and shock resistance and fewer flaws.[6] After the Valiant project (Valiant was launched in 1963 and Warspite in 1965)[7] Foulger served as chief constructor for a number of surface vessels.[2] He attended the Senior Officer's War Course at Greenwich over the winter of 1967–68 and served on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief Fleet.[1] Foulger was again chief constructor for a number of surface vessel projects from 1968–73.[1]
From 1973 Foulger returned to submarines; as assistant director of naval construction he oversaw construction of the six Swiftsure-class submarines and the design of their successors the seven Trafalgar-class submarines.[2] He remained in the post long enough to supervise the construction of the first two Trafalgar class boats: Trafalgar (launched 1981) and Turbulent (launched 1982).[8][2] The Swiftsure and Trafalgar classes were built to a restricted budget but were faster and stealthier than earlier British submarines. To keep within budget Foulger found he had to turn down frequent requests from submarine commanders for their vessels to be upgraded with newer equipment.[2] From 1979 Foulger had responsibility for all British submarine construction including, for the first time, the ballistic missile submarines.[1] During this period the Royal Navy was seeking replacements for the 1960s-built Resolution-class submarines. A number of options were considered that included extending the life of the Resolution-class before it was decided, in 1980, to procure the American-made Trident missile system and build four new ballistic missile submarines, the Vanguard-class (launched in the 1990s).[9] Foulger served as Director of Naval Construction from 1983 to 1985, with the equivalent Royal Navy rank of rear admiral.[1]
Retirement
Foulger retired after his period as director, though afterwards served for ten years as chief naval architect for the restoration of
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Keith Foulger, naval constructor who worked on the UK's nuclear submarine fleet – obituary". The Telegraph. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Keith Foulger obituary". The Times. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ Jane's Fighting Ships. Marston, limited. 1964. p. 288.
- ^ Jane's Fighting Ships. Jane's Publishing Company Limited. 1961. p. 276.
- ISBN 978-1-78096-342-6.
- ISBN 978-1-904381-18-1.
- ^ Jane, Frederick Thomas (1983). Jane's Fighting Ships. S. Low, Marston & Company. p. 583.
- ISBN 978-1-85109-563-6.
- ISBN 978-1-137-28409-9.
- ISBN 978-0-395-98414-7.
- ISBN 978-1-84832-150-2.