Keith Foulger

Foulger joined the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors and worked on designs for the Porpoise and Explorer-class 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 joined the City of London Sea Cadets but upon reaching enlistment age found that his eyesight did not meet the minimum requirements set by the navy.

Foulger headed a team sent to the Electric Boat Company at Groton, Connecticut, to look at the Skipjack-class submarine which was being built there.

[1] 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.

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.

[1] Foulger helped naval architect R. J. Daniel select nickel aluminium bronze as the material for the class's hull valves.

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.

[9] Foulger served as Director of Naval Construction from 1983 to 1985, with the equivalent Royal Navy rank of rear admiral.

[1] Foulger retired after his period as director, though afterwards served for ten years as chief naval architect for the restoration of HMS Victory, a first-rate ship of the line launched in 1765 and Admiral Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar.

[1][10] In retirement he lived in Grittleton, Wiltshire where he helped restore the village's church of St Mary the Virgin, which dates to the 12th century.

[2] He also contributed to the nuclear submarine chapter of D. K. Brown and George Moore's 2012 book Rebuilding the Royal Navy: Warship Design Since 1945.