Govan engineers mark 100 years of Royal Navy periscopes

Engineers in Scotland have marked a century as the sole supplier of periscopes to the Royal Navy.

Glasgow-based Thales delivered the first of the submarine observation instruments, the FY1, to the M3 vessel in late summer 1917.

Since then, every naval warfare force's submarines has been fitted with a periscope or optronics mast designed and built by the company.

Harriett Baldwin, Defence Procurement Minister, said: “This anniversary marks a proud record of Scottish engineering contributing directly to UK defence and national security by providing the eyes and ears for our nuclear deterrent and attack submarines.

“Generations of highly skilled engineers across Scotland have applied battle-winning technologies to meet the needs of their UK armed forces, as well as exporting their innovations to dozens of navies around the world.''

The firm's site at Govan employs around 600 people, mainly highly skilled technical and engineering jobs.

The workforce designs and builds optronics systems for the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.

Thales' optronics masts support submarines' navigation, warfare and communications systems - including thermal imaging and night vision capabilities.

The masts can complete a full 360 degree sweep of the horizon in only a few seconds, providing high definition images to commanders before they are noticed by an adversary.

The electronic imaging systems do not penetrate a submarine's hull, but instead are contained in the conning tower or 'fin'.

Thales UK chief executive, Victor Chavez, said: “Arguably our greatest single innovation was introducing a night vision capability to allow submarines to navigate and gather intelligence 24/7.

“However, our latest full remote control, non-hull penetrating optronics systems give naval architects more design flexibility by not restricting them to co-locating the fin and the control room via a 50ft long periscope.

“These options, combined with the digital inboard control and display system, provide commanders with a leap forward in submarine capability.'