SSN18 HMS Talent was ordered in 1984, and laid down in 1986. At the time, she had the distinction of being the last boat to be built and launched down the slipway at Barrow using traditional hull construction and dynamic launch methods developed and practised since 1873. This milestone in the shipyard's history was marked by a royal launch, an honour normally reserved for unique or first-of-class vessels. HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, named and launched HMS Talent on April 15th 1988. Talent left for sea trials in December 1989 and commissioned at Barrow in the presence of HRH Princess Anne in 1990.
