Introduction
HMS Vigilant is the third Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) of Britain’s Royal Navy. She was constructed by Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering in Barrow-in-Furness. Her keel was laid down on February 16, 1991. She was launched on October 14, 1995, and officially commissioned into service on November 2, 1996.
HMS Vigilant operates from the Royal Naval Base at Faslane, Scotland. Faslane serves as the homeport for Britain’s fleet of four Vanguard-class submarines. The other vessels in this class are HMS Vanguard, HMS Victorious, and HMS Vengeance.
These submarines carry sixteen Trident II (D-5) ballistic missiles. Each missile can deliver multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Each warhead has an explosive yield of around 100 kilotons. HMS Vigilant began her first strategic patrol in late 1997, becoming a crucial part of the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent strategy.
Official Badge
The official badge of HMS Vigilant has a blue field and features a gold dragon couchant gardant.
Specifications
The Vanguard-class submarines were designed and built by Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering in Barrow-in-Furness, Britain. Each submarine measures 150 meters in length and displaces approximately 15,900 tonnes submerged, nearly twice the size of the earlier Polaris-class submarines they replaced.
Each Vanguard-class submarine is larger than a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The crew has been reduced to 132 officers and men, down from the 149 crew members required by Polaris-class submarines.
These submarines are powered by a Rolls-Royce PWR2 nuclear reactor, enabling speeds greater than 25 knots. The reactor produces steam by boiling seawater, propelling the submarine efficiently underwater. Each submarine has 16 launch tubes, each housing a single three-stage, solid-fuel Trident II D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
These missiles are approximately 13 meters in length, 2 meters in diameter, and weigh roughly 60 tonnes. The Trident II missile has a range of between 6,500 and 12,000 kilometers and has an estimated circular error probable (CEP) of approximately 90 meters.
Construction & Commissioning
- Builder: Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering (VSEL), Barrow-in-Furness, England.
- Cost: £ 500 million.
- Ordered: 13 November 1990
- Keel laying ceremony: 6 February 1991
- Launched: 5 October 1995
- Sea trials start: March 1996
- Commissioned: 2 November 1996
Service
- 10 October 1997, HMS Vigilant launches her first Trident D5 missile off Florida.
- Late 1997, HMS Vigilant sails on her first Trident operational patrol.
Assignments
| Dates | Unit | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2 November 1996 - Present | 1st Submarine Squadron (SM1) | Clyde Submarine Base, Faslane |
Overhauls
The list of refueling overhauls and major maintenances received by HMS Vigilant is the following:
| Location | Start | End | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| HM Naval Base Devonport | October 2008 | March 2012 | Long Overhaul Period and Refuel (LOP(R)) |
Missile Launches
British submarines conduct their missile flight tests at the U.S. Eastern Test Range, located off the coast of Florida. Demonstration and Shakedown Operations (DASO) are designed to rigorously test and certify the readiness of the crew, equipment, and the missile system for operational service.
The following table displays the missile fired by HMS Vigilant:
| # | Date | Type | Missile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 October 1997 | DASO | Trident D5 | Successfull |
| 2 | 10 October 1997 | DASO | Trident D5 | Successfull |
| 3 | 23 October 2012 | DASO | Trident D5 | Successfull |
Photo Gallery
Further Reading
- Vanguard Class of Ballistic Missile Submarines
- Trident II D-5 (UGM-133A)
- 1st Submarine Squadron (SM1)
Other ships of the class:
Bibliography
- Saunders, S., Philpott, T. (2015). Jane’s Fighting Ships 2015 2016: Yearbook. United Kingdom: Ihs.
- Friedman, N. (2020). British Submarines in the Cold War Era. United Kingdom: Pen & Sword Books.
- Jinks, J., Hennessy, P. (2015). The Silent Deep: The Royal Navy Submarine Service Since 1945. United Kingdom: Penguin Books Limited.
- Weightman, A. E. (1957). Heraldry in the Royal Navy: Crests and Badges of H. M. Ships. United Kingdom: Gale and Polden.
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