nuclear-news

Safety fears : the problem of Britain’s ageing nuclear submarines

A British nuclear submarine has broken the record for the longest patrol at
sea as safety fears grow over the Royal Navy’s ageing fleet. The
Vanguard-class vessel returned to the Faslane naval base in Scotland on
Monday encrusted with barnacles and covered in slime after a gruelling tour
understood to have lasted more than six months.

Naval experts have raised concerns that the long patrols result in immense physical strain on the vessels and take a psychological toll on the crews. The UK has four
Vanguard-class submarines, which are armed with up to eight Trident
ballistic missiles carrying Britain’s nuclear warheads. At least one
submarine is on patrol at all times to maintain a continuous at-sea
deterrent. The fleet has been effectively reduced to two functioning
vessels, HMS Vigilant and HMS Vengeance, owing to repair works on the other
two.

Times 12th Sept 2023

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ageing-nuclear-submarine-breaks-record-for-longest-patrol-j2d2dd7h5

September 14, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, UK