HMS Vengeance returns to Faslane after record 217 days submerged
Trident submarine HMS Vengeance is back at Faslane after a record 217-day patrol, beating the 205-day mark and raising fresh worries over fleet maintenance.
Livefeed News DeskUpdated · 4 min read
Quick answer
HMS Vengeance, one of Britain's four Trident nuclear submarines, returned to Faslane in Scotland on Sunday after 217 days submerged, the longest deployment at sea for a British vessel. It beat the previous 205-day record set by HMS Vanguard. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the crew of about 140.
Key facts
- HMS Vengeance left Faslane on 12 April and spent 217 days submerged.
- The previous record was 205 days, set by HMS Vanguard.
- The crew numbers about 140.
- Vanguard-class boats were designed around three-month tours, according to nuclear expert David Cullen.
- The return was delayed because the replacement submarine had to go back to base to fix a technical fault.
A record patrol ends
A Royal Navy submarine carrying Trident nuclear missiles has returned to its Scottish base after a record 217 days submerged on patrol. HMS Vengeance set out from Faslane, near Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute, on 12 April and came back on Sunday. Its 140-strong crew spent the tour in almost total isolation beneath the surface.
The patrol beats the previous record of 205 days, set by HMS Vanguard when it returned in April. The BBC describes Vanguard's figure as the record it is thought to have set, while the Guardian states it as the previous record.
Crew members stood on deck as the submarine travelled up Gare Loch, accompanied by smaller naval support vessels and tugs. The hull was encrusted in marine growth and some of its sound-absorbing tiles were missing.
Why it stayed out so long
HMS Vengeance had been expected back at Faslane the previous weekend, but that was reportedly delayed when the submarine replacing it on patrol had to return to base to fix a technical fault. The Times also reports that maintenance issues on another submarine forced the boat into the extended tour.
Typical patrol lengths for the UK's Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines have more than doubled in recent years, with six-month deployments now routine because of a shortage of seaworthy vessels. "Patrols are getting longer and longer," said David Cullen, a nuclear expert with the Basic think tank. "The fleet was designed around three-month tours, and that was considered to be a long time to be stuck underwater in a metal box with no contact with the outside world."
When the class entered service in the 1990s, the boats were designed to carry three to four months of food, and deployments of more than 100 days were considered highly exceptional. Missions now start with tinned food packed into corridors and other spare spaces. The submarines were commissioned with an expected service life of 25 years but are now expected to serve for up to 40, until the first Dreadnought-class boats replace them in the early 2030s.
What the defence secretary said
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the crew at HM Naval Base Clyde, accompanied by the first secretary of state, Lou Haigh. He said it "doesn't sit lightly" with him that crews were being asked to serve longer than intended.
"It makes me feel even more indebted to the crew for the service they've given to the country, for the commitment they show, the dedication, the professionalism, the expertise," Streeting said. "I think the whole country can be extraordinarily proud of our submariners and of our nuclear deterrent."
The increase in time at sea reflects slow submarine maintenance. Labour blames spending cuts made under the Conservatives, while naval chiefs say there is a plan for improvement. First Sea Lord Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins said at a conference in Oslo last week that the UK must do better at maintaining the fleet.
Life on board
To avoid detection, the submarines stay submerged and in radio silence for the whole patrol, and they cannot be resupplied. They can receive encoded messages via a floating wire antenna or communications buoy. Families can send a weekly 120-word "Familygram", but crews cannot reply, and bad news can be withheld if it might affect a sailor's effectiveness.
Most of the crew work six hours on and six hours off and sleep in narrow bunks, sometimes nine to a cabin. Returning submariners are advised not to drive for a few days while their distance perception adjusts. There are concerns about the psychological impact on crews at a time when the Royal Navy is struggling to recruit.
Continuous at-sea deterrent
Since 1969 the UK has always kept at least one ballistic missile submarine on patrol. Each of the four 150-metre Vanguard-class boats can carry up to 16 Trident missiles.
Frequently asked questions
How long was HMS Vengeance at sea?
It spent 217 days submerged after leaving Faslane on 12 April.
What was the previous record?
The previous record was 205 days, set by HMS Vanguard, which returned in April.
Why are Trident patrols getting longer?
The BBC reports a shortage of seaworthy vessels, and the Guardian links the trend to slow maintenance. This patrol was extended when the replacement submarine had to fix a technical fault.
Who welcomed the crew home?
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, accompanied by first secretary of state Lou Haigh, according to the Guardian.
