The vessels were given a conventional submarine shape with tapered bows and sterns. The sail was set ahead of midships and the tailplane arrangement a cruciform pattern. The top of the deck was relatively flat with the line running this way most of the length of the boat. For their time, the Trafalgar-class were very advanced undersea boats noted for their low acoustic levels and effective intelligence-gathering capabilities.
HMS Trafalgar has a career blemish when she was run aground in 1996 near the coast of Scotland (Isle of Skye). She did, however, manage to see combat actions prior to her retirement in 2009 when the boat participated in "Operation Veritas" during 2001 (following the events of 9/11). Cruise missiles were launched against Al-Qaeda / Taliban positions in Afghanistan in the operation. In March of 2002, she returned to British home waters but, that November, she ran aground yet-again resulting in damage and a few reported injuries.
The Trafalgar-class has since been succeeded by the Astute-class with will number seven boats (three are in service as of this writing).
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