HMS Vengeance completes record 217-day nuclear submarine patrol

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 15 Nov, 13:13 · Archive

HMS Vengeance, a British Trident nuclear submarine, has returned to base after a record 217-day patrol.

HMS Vengeance, a Trident nuclear submarine carrying one of Britain's four strategic missile boats, has returned to Faslane naval base in Scotland after spending 217 days submerged. The patrol began on 12 April and concluded on Sunday, breaking the previous record of 205 days set by HMS Vanguard earlier this year.

The extended deployment reflects difficulties in maintaining Britain's ageing nuclear submarine fleet. David Cullen, a nuclear expert with the Basic thinktank, noted that the Vanguard-class submarines were originally designed for three to four-month tours. When brought into service in the 1990s, they carried three to four months of food for the crew of about 140 sailors. Present deployments now begin with tinned food crammed into corridors and other available spaces.

The roughly 150 crew members endured rolling eight-hour shifts with no natural light or fresh air during their 31 weeks at sea. Their only contact with family was a weekly text message, vetted by the captain to filter out distressing news. Bereavements and serious illnesses are withheld until the final day at sea, when affected sailors are transferred ashore immediately. Former submarine captain Ryan Ramsey told the Sun that the deployment was 'an incredible feat of human endurance' not just for the crew but also their families, who remain cut off while a submarine is on patrol.

How it is being reported

• Trident submarine returns home after record-breaking patrol - as Streeting warns Russia Britain's nukes 'not up for negotiation'Speaking to the Daily Mail as a tired-looking HMS Vengeance sailed into the Clyde on Sunday, the Defence Secretary insisted he would 'not abandon' European allies and cave in to demands by Putin.Daily Mail · 15 Nov, 17:56
• British nuclear submarine makes triumphant return after record-breaking 217-day patrolA British nuclear submarine has received a hero's welcome after completing an extraordinary 217-day patrol that shattered the world record for the longest deployment in history. HMS Vengeance had been submerged for seven months and three days before it arrived at HMNB Clyde today, surpassing the previous record of 205 days established by HMS Vanguard earlier this year. It marks the first time any submarine patrol has exceeded seven months, a milestone driven by ongoing difficulties in maintaining Britain's other nuclear missile-carrying submarines. Former submarine captain Ryan Ramsey…GB News · 15 Nov, 12:50
• Trident nuclear submarine concludes record underwater deploymentHMS Vengeance’s 217-day tour raises questions about slow pace of maintenance of ageing fleet and impact on crew A Trident nuclear submarine has concluded a record seven-month deployment, returning to the Faslane naval base in Scotland, where its crew are expected to be greeted by senior members of the government . HMS Vengeance began its patrol on 12 April and spent 217 days submerged before returning on Sunday, leaving the country when Keir Starmer was in Downing Street and Manchester United were third in the Premier League. Continue reading...The Guardian · 15 Nov, 12:09

In this story: HMS Vengeance · HMS Vanguard · Faslane · Britain · Keir Starmer · David Cullen · Ryan Ramsey

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