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HMS Vigilant (S30)
Encyclopedia
HMS Vigilant is the third of the Royal Navy
. Vigilant carries the Trident ballistic missile, the UK's nuclear deterrent
.
Vigilant was built at Barrow-in-Furness
by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd
(now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions), was launched
in October 1995, and commissioned
in November 1996.
Peter Hennessy
reporting for the Today programme
on BBC radio 4, reported from Vigilant on 28 December 2007. He reported that there is a grey safe in the control room that has an inner safe that only the commanding officer and executive officer can open. In that safe is a letter from the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
, the letter contains guidance and orders if the United Kingdom is attacked by nuclear weapons.
The French Navy also have a SSBN in service called Vigilant.
breached security at Faslane Naval Base where the Vanguard-class submarines are based. Two protestors managed to spraypaint Vigilant with the CND
symbol and the word "Vile".
Vigilant arrived at Devonport on 11 October 2008 for a major refit. Vigilant is expected to return to the fleet in 2012 following her £300 million refit.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Vigilant carries the Trident ballistic missile, the UK's nuclear deterrent
United Kingdom and weapons of mass destruction
The United Kingdom possesses, or has possessed, a variety of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. The United Kingdom is one of the five official nuclear weapon states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has an independent nuclear deterrent...
.
Vigilant was built at Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd
Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd
In 1994 VSEL was subject to two takeover proposals, one from GEC and another from British Aerospace . VSEL was willing to participate in a merger with a larger company to reduce its exposure to cycles in warship production, particularly following the "Options for Change" defence review after the...
(now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions), was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
in October 1995, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
in November 1996.
Peter Hennessy
Peter Hennessy
Peter John Hennessy, Baron Hennessy of Nympsfield, FBA is an English historian of government. Since 1992, he has been Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary, University of London.-Early life:...
reporting for the Today programme
Today programme
Today is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks...
on BBC radio 4, reported from Vigilant on 28 December 2007. He reported that there is a grey safe in the control room that has an inner safe that only the commanding officer and executive officer can open. In that safe is a letter from the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, the letter contains guidance and orders if the United Kingdom is attacked by nuclear weapons.
The French Navy also have a SSBN in service called Vigilant.
Operational history
In 2002, protestors from Trident PloughsharesTrident Ploughshares
Trident Ploughshares is an activist anti-nuclear weapons group, founded in 1998 with the aim of "beating swords into ploughshares" . This is specifically by attempting to disarm the UK Trident nuclear weapons system, in a non-violent manner...
breached security at Faslane Naval Base where the Vanguard-class submarines are based. Two protestors managed to spraypaint Vigilant with the CND
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is an anti-nuclear organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
symbol and the word "Vile".
Vigilant arrived at Devonport on 11 October 2008 for a major refit. Vigilant is expected to return to the fleet in 2012 following her £300 million refit.
General characteristics
- Displacement: 16,000 tons submerged
- Propulsion: Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce plcRolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
PWR2 reactor, two GEC turbines, single shaft, pump jet propulsor - Electrical Power: two PaxmanPaxman (engines)Paxman is a major British brand of diesel engines. Ownership has changed on a number of occasions since the company's formation in 1865, and now the brand is owned by MAN SE, as part of MAN Diesel & Turbo. At its peak, the Paxman works covered 23 acres and employed over 2,000 people. Engine...
diesel generators, two WH Allen turbogenerators - Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h) submerged
- Complement: 14 officers, 121 men
- Strategic Armament: 16 LockheedLockheed MartinLockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
Trident II D5 ballistic missiles - Defensive Armament: four 533 mm (21-inch) torpedo tubes, Spearfish torpedoSpearfish torpedoThe Spearfish torpedo is the heavy torpedo used by the submarines of the Royal Navy. It can be guided by wire or by autonomous active or passive sonar, and provides both anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface ship warfare capability.It replaces the unreliable Tigerfish torpedo, which was...
es
External links
- pictures: On board HMS Trident, (BBC pictures of HMS Vigilant's interior)