BORIS Johnson paid tribute to Barrow in one of his last appearances as prime minister.
Speaking at the commissioning of BAE's latest attack submarine, he praised the town's efforts in helping to protect the nation.
The outgoing PM applauded the thousands of workers who helped to build HMS Anson, the newest Astute-class submarine.
At 97 metres long and with a displacement of 7,800 tonnes, the nuclear-powered submarine is the fifth of seven in the Astute class.
Mr Johnson said: "It's fantastic to be here in Barrow, which is the crucible of British marine engineering of course and the historic maternity ward of these steel leviathans.
"And when you look at HMS Anson, you're looking at the climax of 11 years of high precision effort by 10,500 shipwrights and sonar experts and weapons engineers, a concentration of talent and expertise that can be mustered by only two or three other countries in the world.
"And on this special day we give them our thanks."
Anson is the fifth of seven new hunter killer sumbarines being built at the shipyard.
Mr Johnson said: "You're looking at a vessel that is five times as long as the chamber of the House of Commons and I think you will agree as an international argument considerably more persuasive than some of the things you that are deployed in the chamber.
"This is also, as the lady sponsor has wonderfully pointed out, the place of work, play and rest for 110 brave submariners at sea, week in, week out, in the service of our country.
"To them, in anticipation, I think we should give our thanks.
"When you when you're looking at HMS Anson you're also of course looking at a vast UK industrial project that represents all that I mean by leveling up: it's driving jobs and growth and the acquisition of skills up and down the country.
"The element of surprise is crucial and that is why HMS Anson is so vital for our defences.
"Some people will continue to insist that this is a weapon of War, I tell you that she is a guarantor of peace and in this uncertain world we need that guarantee more than ever.
"I congratulate all those who designed her, all those who built her.
"And I know in decades to come when she's out at sea keeping us safe, we'll remember the day we were here in Barrow."
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