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Returning from patrol April 2014
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Vigilant
Laid down	16 February 1991
Launched	14 October 1995
Commissioned	2 November 1996
Homeport	HMNB Clyde
Status	In active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Vanguard-class submarine
Displacement	15,900 tonnes, submerged
Length	149.9 m (491 ft 10 in)
Beam	12.8 m (42 ft 0 in)
Draught	12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Propulsion	1 × Rolls-Royce PWR2 nuclear reactor 2 × GEC turbines; 27,500 shp (20.5 MW) 1 × shaft, pump jet propulsor 2 × auxiliary retractable propulsion motors 2 × WH Allen turbo generators (6 MW) 2 × Paxman diesel alternators; 2,700 shp (2.0 MW)
Speed	In excess of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), submerged
Range	Only limited by food and maintenance requirements.
Complement	135
Sensors and processing systems	BAE Systems SMCS Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I-band navigation radar Thales Underwater Systems Type 2054 composite sonar suite comprising:  Marconi/Ferranti Type 2046 towed array sonar  Type 2043 hull-mounted active and passive search sonar  Type 2082 passive intercept and ranging sonar Pilkington Optronics CK51 search periscope Pilkington Optronics CH91 attack periscope
Electronic warfare & decoys	Two SSE Mk10 launchers for Type 2066 and Type 2071 torpedo decoys RESM Racal UAP passive intercept
Armament	4 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes for: Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes 16 ballistic missile tubes for: 16 × Lockheed Trident II D5 SLBMs (carrying up to 48 nuclear warheads)

HMS Vigilant is the third Vanguard-class submarine of the Royal Navy. Vigilant carries the Trident ballistic missile, the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent.

Construction

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.

Letter of last resort

Peter Hennessy visited Vigilant for the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 in 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 of last resort, which contains guidance and orders to be followed should the United Kingdom be attacked with nuclear weapons. This letter is identical to the other three letters in similar safes on the other three Vanguard-class submarines carrying the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent.

Operational history

In 2002, protestors from Trident Ploughshares breached security at Faslane Naval Base where the Vanguard-class submarines are based. Two protestors managed to spray paint Vigilant with the CND symbol and the word "Vile".

Vigilant arrived at Devonport on 11 October 2008 for a major refit. Vigilant returned to the fleet on 27 March 2012 after her £300m refit. In 2013, she test fired her main weapon, a firing of the Trident D5 after three years. Vigilant returned from a patrol on 23 December 2016 before Christmas.

In October 2017, it was revealed that the vessel's captain had been relieved of his command following allegations of an "inappropriate relationship" with a female crew member. Along with the captain, his executive officer was also removed from his post amid allegations of an improper relationship with a different female crew member. Later that month, it was reported that nine crew members had been dismissed for using cocaine.

See also

• List of submarines of the Royal Navy
• List of submarine classes of the Royal Navy
• Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom
• Royal Navy Submarine Service
• Submarine-launched ballistic missile
• Trident nuclear programme

References

1. Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004–2005. Jane's Information Group Limited. p. 794. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.
2. "Vanguard class submarine". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
3. "HMS Vigilant Arrives in Devonport for Major Refit". Royal Navy. 13 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
4. "HMS Vigilant SSBN in for GBP 300 million refit". Defense Industry Daily. 4 March 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
5. "HMS Vigilant: Torpoint Ferry suspended for submarine departure". BBC News. 27 March 2012. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
6. "Vigilant crew honoured for work leading to successful missile test firing". Royal Navy. 5 June 2013. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
7. "Royal Navy submarine returns home in time for Christmas". Royal Navy. 23 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
8. "Nuclear submarine captain relieved of command". BBC News. 2 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
9. Farmer, Ben (6 October 2017). "Second officer removed for alleged improper relationship with female colleague on scandal-hit submarine". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
10. "Nine British servicemen removed from HMS Vigilant after testing positive for cocaine". The Telegraph. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
11. "HMS Vigilant: Nine sailors fired after failing drugs tests". BBC News. 28 October 2017. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.

External links

• Official website

v t e Commissioned ships of the Royal Navy
Aircraft carriers	Queen Elizabeth class Queen Elizabeth Prince of Wales
Submarines	Vanguard class Vanguard Victorious Vigilant Vengeance Trafalgar class Triumph Astute class Astute Ambush Artful Audacious Anson
Destroyers	Type 45 Daring Dauntless Diamond Dragon Defender Duncan
Frigates	Type 23 Argyll Lancaster Iron Duke Westminster Richmond Somerset Sutherland Kent Portland St Albans
Amphibious warfare ships	Albion-class LPD Albion Bulwark
Mine counter measures vessels	Sandown class Penzance Pembroke Bangor Hunt class Ledbury Cattistock Brocklesby Middleton Chiddingfold Hurworth
Patrol vessels	Ice patrol vessel Protector River class Severn Tyne Mersey Forth Medway Trent Tamar Spey Archer class Archer Biter Smiter Blazer Puncher Charger Ranger Trumpeter Express Example Explorer Exploit Tracker Raider Pursuer Dasher Cutlass class Cutlass Dagger
Survey vessels	Ocean survey vessel Scott Survey launch Magpie
Miscellaneous	Ship of the line Victory (flagship of the First Sea Lord)

• Vanguard-class submarines
• Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness
• 1995 ships
• Submarines of the United Kingdom