HMS Vanguard to get new nuclear core

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

Yeah sounds like a primary to secondary leak to me too. And yeah, only way to get the Rx out is through a massive hull cut. Meaning a year minimum in drydock, probably two.

Oh and TDW, I like you! But then again I do get along with nucs pretty well.

Considering the way modern subs are constructed, I would think that cutting a huge hole in the hull would degrade the integrity to the point of making it totally unusable. I would be squeamish during every dive afterward. IIRC isn't that the reason why the USS Enterprise became a museum ship?
Yes, I know that's a ship and not a sub but, they would have needed to cut a big hole in her to remove the pile.