Vanguard-class submarine
HMS Vanguard at Faslane, 2010
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Class overview | |
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Builders | Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, Barrow-in-Furness, England |
Operators | Royal Navy |
Preceded by | Resolution class |
Succeeded by | Dreadnought class |
Cost | |
Built | 1986–1998 |
In service | 1993–present |
Completed | 4 |
Active | 4 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine |
Displacement | Submerged: 15,900 t (15,600 long tons; 17,500 short tons) |
Length | 149.9 m (491 ft 10 in) |
Beam | 12.8 m (42 ft 0 in) |
Draught | 12 m (39 ft 4 in) |
Propulsion |
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Speed | Over 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), submerged |
Range | Limited only by food and mechanical components |
Complement | 135 |
Sensors and processing systems |
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Electronic warfare & decoys |
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Armament |
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The Vanguard class is a class of
Since the decommissioning of the
Development
Trident programme
Beginning in the late 1960s, the United Kingdom operated four
- A British designed and built ballistic missile; Although Britain had had no capability in this field since the 1960s, it was considered "not to be impossible". However, it would be very expensive, would be full of uncertainty and would not be available within the required time period. Thus the option was considered "unattractive".
- Retain Polaris, but fitted on a new submarine class; This option would have a cheaper "initial capital cost", but would lack in terms of required capability and reliability. Also, it was concluded that any initial capital savings would have been lost beyond the 1990s, due to the high cost of sustaining a small stockpile of bespoke missiles kept only in British service.
A European solution and the US
Design and construction
The Vanguard class were designed in the early 1980s by the Ministry of Defence, acting in one of its last Royal Navy warship design authority roles. The guidance drawings were then supplied for detailed design development by
Due to the large size of the Vanguard-class, the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-in-Furness was built between 1982 and 1986 specifically for the construction of the boats.[10]
Beginning in 1985, both HMNB Clyde and the Royal Naval Armaments Depot Coulport at Faslane underwent extensive redevelopment in preparation for the Vanguard class submarines and Trident II missiles. Rosyth dockyard also underwent significant redevelopment. The work included enhanced "handling, storage, armament processing, berthing, docking, engineering, training and refitting facilities" at an estimates cost of £550 million.[11]
Prime Minister Thatcher laid the keel of the first boat, HMS Vanguard, on 3 September 1986 at the Devonshire Dock Hall.
Replacement
On 4 December 2006, then Prime Minister Tony Blair revealed plans to spend up to £20 billion on a new generation of ballistic missile submarines to replace the Vanguard class. In order to reduce costs and show Britain's commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Blair suggested that submarine numbers could be cut from four to three, while the number of nuclear warheads would be cut by 20% to 160.[14] On 23 September 2009, then Prime Minister Gordon Brown confirmed that this reduction to three submarines was still under consideration.[15] In February 2011, the Defence Secretary Liam Fox stated that four submarines would be needed if the UK was to retain a credible nuclear deterrent.[16] On 18 May 2011 the British government approved the initial assessment phase for the construction of a new class of four submarines, paving the way for the ordering of the first long-lead items and preparations for the main build to begin in the future. This new class of submarine, now known as the Dreadnought class, will retain the current Trident II missiles, and will incorporate a new 'PWR3' nuclear reactor as well as technology developed for the Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarines of the Royal Navy.
A vote on the Trident renewal programme was held in the House of Commons on 18 July 2016, and determined that the UK should proceed with construction of the next generation of submarines. The motion passed with a significant majority of 472 MPs voting in favour and 117 against. The MoD put the cost of building, testing and commissioning the replacement vessels at £31 billion (plus a contingency fund of £10 billion) over 35 years, or about 0.2 per cent of government spending, or 6 per cent of defence spending, every year.[17] It is expected the new fleet of submarines will come into operation starting 2028 at the earliest[5] and certainly by the 2030s.[18] The Dreadnought class will extend the life of the Trident programme until at least the 2060s.[19]
Characteristics
Weapons and systems
The Vanguard-class submarines are equipped with 16 ballistic missile tubes. However, as of the
The submarines carry the
A specialised Submarine Command System (SMCS) was originally developed for the Vanguard boats and was later used on the Trafalgar class.[22]
Propulsion
A new
Nuclear warheads
On 16 March 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his government's 10-year plan to boost international trade and deploy soft power around the world with an aspiration of creating a “Global Britain”. In a document called Global Britain in a competitive age, this plan raised the cap on the number of nuclear warheads aboard the Royal Navy's Trident submarines from 180 to 260. The document also vowed to maintain a fleet of four nuclear-armed submarines so Britain would always have one at sea.[25]
Boats of the class
Name | Pennant No. | Builder | Laid down[3] | Launched[3] | Commissioned[3] | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vanguard | S28 | Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, Barrow-in-Furness | 3 September 1986 | 4 March 1992 | 14 August 1993 | In active service |
Victorious | S29 | 3 December 1987 | 29 September 1993 | 7 January 1995 | In active service | |
Vigilant | S30 | 16 February 1991 | 14 October 1995 | 2 November 1996 | In active service | |
Vengeance | S31 | 1 February 1993 | 19 September 1998 | 27 November 1999 | In active service |
In fiction
The 2021
See also
- List of submarines of the Royal Navy
- List of submarine classes of the Royal Navy
- List of submarine classes in service
- Royal Navy Submarine Service
- Future of the Royal Navy
- Submarine-launched ballistic missile
- Letters of last resort
References
- ^ Hartley (PDF) Archived 17 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine nuclearinfo.org
- ^ Royal Navy Vanguard class submarine, royalnavy.mod.uk
- ^ ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.
- White Paper of July 1998, published by National Archives– re-access made 2020-03-09
- ^ a b "Everything you need to know about Trident – Britain's nuclear deterrent". ITV News. ITV plc. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
The £40 billion construction of a new fleet, Successor, could begin this year and be operational by 2028, however it will more than likely be at a later date given the MoD's complex procurement procedures. while the current fleet will be phased out by 2032.
- ^ "BAE Systems to begin building new British nuclear submarines". Reuters. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d PYM, Francis (July 1980). "The Future United Kingdom Strategic Nuclear Deterrent Force" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ Letter to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom Confirming the Sale of the Trident II Missile System to the Her Country Archived 13 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine 11 March 1982
- ISBN 0-10-202788-9.
- ^ "In pictures: Submarine 'shed' in Cumbria marks 25th year". BBC News. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Trident". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Hansard, 15 January 1985. 15 January 1985. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "DDH celebrates 25th birthday | Astute Class Submarine – BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines". astuteclass.com. 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ "Trident order raises arms doubts". The Guardian. London. 8 July 1992.
- ^ The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (PDF), Ministry of Defence, 4 December 2006, retrieved 5 December 2006
- ^ BBC News (23 September 2009). "Brown move to cut UK nuclear subs". Retrieved 23 September 2009.
- ^ "Trident nuclear fleet cuts ruled out by Liam Fox". BBC News. 23 February 2011.
- ^ "UK nuclear deterrence: what you need to know". Ministry of Defence. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ^ "MPs approve Trident renewal". BBC News. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
MPs approve Trident renewal
- ^ Tom Peck (18 July 2016). "Theresa May warns threat of nuclear attack has increased ahead of Trident vote". Independent. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ Royal Naval Website. "Vanguard Class Ballistic Subs (SSBN)". Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- ^ "Royal Navy's newest sub test fires torpedo using £50 million UK-made advanced Combat System – News stories – GOV.UK". gov.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ISBN 0-85177-952-2
- ^ Richard Carr (19 November 2014). "Paxman Submarine Engines". Paxman History Pages. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
One engine drives a Brush alternator with a rating of 850 kW. The AC output from this provides auxiliary power for the ship's service (hotel) load. The other Valenta is coupled to a Brush generator with a rating of 750 kW, providing DC output for propulsion in the event of failure or non-availability of the main propulsion system (emergency "get you home").
- ^ "Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review" (PDF). HM Government. 19 October 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
- ^ Booth, William (16 March 2021). "Boris Johnson's vision for post-Brexit 'Global Britain' includes more nuclear weapons". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 June 2021 – via msn.com.
- ^ "BBC One announces brand new thriller Vigil (w/t)". BBC. 17 January 2020.
Further reading
- Waters, Conrad (April 2021), "Vanguard Class Submarines – Enter the Twilight Zone", Ships Monthly: 53–57
External links
- Federation of American Scientists. "Vanguard Class Ballistic Missile Submarine". Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- Naval technology. "Vanguard class". Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: HMS Vanguard Trident II test-launch. YouTube video. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- "Vanguard class ballistic missile submarine". Military Today. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- "In pictures: On board HMS Trident". BBC News. Retrieved 18 June 2007.