Showing signs of being at sea for a long period, a Vanguard class submarine arrived back home on the Clyde today.
It is believed this boat has been at sea for just under 6 months – the length of time at sea has been rising sharply over the last few years. Today’s homecoming is another example of an underwater epic that follows one previously observed in September 2023 when a boat returned from what was thought to be an even longer 190-day patrol.
As discussed in the previous article, the growing demands on the submarine service have come about due to a combination of factors including infrastructure, personnel and maintenance issues. With HMS Vanguard now back from her DASO (shake down patrol) and following the abortive missile test in January, patrol length may reduce for a while at least as there are three boats in the rotation instead of two.
It is instructive to note that during a documentary made in the 1980s about the Polaris submarine HMS Repulse, submariners and their families considered anything more than 8 weeks away to be a long patrol and tough on all involved.
Anyway, congratulations and heartfelt thanks to all the submariners involved in the arduous task of keeping the nation safe by deterring nuclear threats 24 hours a day.
Photos: Sheila Weir
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I presume people is the biggest problem else you would have thought they can come back after 3 months and swap crews? Going to get worse if you are asking for this long deployments such as this :(. Well done to all.
For her to have come back in to swap crew another of the class would have needed to go out and cover the commitment to maintaining a 24/7/365 deterrence patrol. When only 2 boats were available that would have been difficult to do.
Could they not swap some crew at sea ?
The main reason for returning would be lack of provisions. There is only so much space on board for food. Fresh food and milk etc would run out within 10 days leaving only frozen and dry provisions to rely on for the remaining patrol time. Certainly with Polaris it used to be three months or there abouts. When four Tridents were available it was roughly the same.
Having worked with these guys they have my upmost respect as everyone in this country should do.
Unfortunately due to poor decisions by previous Governments the replacements have been ordered too late.
Hi, being away for 6 months they’ll get supplied at rendezvous points or depending where the boat is it can call at the Assension Islands or Diago Garcia
lol no
How much leave would crew get off after this? Does it make up for being not only away, but under for that length of time. I can see why no one wants to do it, that’s asking a LOT. At least on warships people can go outside every once in a while.
A 3 week patrol weekend, followed by doing duties onboard the boat to support the opposite patrol
Thanks
I wouldn’t do it without 3 months off after that. Who, in their right mind, would agree to this?
What an amazing ‘tour’! I just want to pass on my respect for the men & women who facilitated this. I know they trained, like all of us, but nothing prepares you for the reality! (Cliche, I know)., work well done XXX
Whilst I was on Polaris late 70’s we did 3 month patrols!
Good feeling mr Michael or jzst a simple as money needed? Or say never again? Maybe🤣🍾🍷🍸🍹🍺🍻
Unfortunately,Vladimir Starmer and his predecessors,DONT care about military personnel or their families.Whilst they are brown nosing irrelevant,our brave lads & lasses in the armed forces are guarding this once great nation,BUT for what?? This current PM obviously despises our citizens and would rather protect the illegals.So a bad thing for our forces recruitment team .Why defend a country when the current Pam despises you??
Well said. I agree totally Paul.
Is once again a great country I’d say, for caring about People no matter what their origin. Whilst I may not agree with the current PM and I don’t know it all, far far from it. Indeed who the hell would take that job. Trying to fix complicated global issues in one small Country with a 4-yr mandate is an impossible task. I doubt very much he despises us. I understand why you’d feel that way though. I hope you can find an alternative viewpoint through discussion and reflection with a calm mind as hatred only creates more problems. As has been demonstrated throughout history and will continue to be so. Hence needing our brave men and women, whom I commend without reserve.
Its people who think we have a responsibility that equalises the existing inhabitants of UK with complete strangers of unknown origin and background who are going to be causing divisions. I despise Starmer and all his fellow travelers. I think the crew of these boats are amazing in carrying out their duties. The whole nation should be proud of them and treat them better than the entitled train drivers. Said it haven’t I.
I think you’ve forgotten that the Tory party has been in control for the last 14 years.
Any shortcomings in defence – well they had since 2010 to sort them out and did they ?
Then again when you waste 100s of millions paying an African country to take what – one migrant and billions given to pub landlords and Tory peers for some substandard PPE – there’s not much left for defence is there.
Oh and the time they crashed the economy and cost us tens of billions when they put Truss in charge.
All the while defence property is crumbling and the nation is in decline.
Oh and the lovely Tory PM who couldn’t be bothered hanging around for the D Day commemorations. He disrespected all of our armed forces and their sacrifices that day. Starmer didn’t.
But sure. Blame the party that have been in charge for two months.
A Prime Minister I post for 1 month is responsible. I know people have a political bias but your level of bias and ignorance of facts is off the scale
“A prime minister in post for 1 month is responsible” – what was he supposed to do, magic up another fully crewed SSBN from somewhere?
They all deserve a medal. Respect to you all, thanks for keeping us all safe.
And 100k each at least.
This is what the Royal Navy does
It is duty and patriotism in it’s purest form + a very high level of technical expertise. Our RN sailors have my absolute tespect
Plus pay, they should be compensated – 100k each minimum, then you would see many wanting to do it and pick the best ones. Godspeed RN.
All the very best to the maniacs.
Can sea life grow on a constantly moving vessel? If not, that sub was stationary, silently listening, somewhere for a LONG time.
A SSBN’s priority is to avoid detection. They will not be stationary as that causes other problems but will often spend long periods cruising at very slow speeds. Think just 2-3 knots. Nowhere near fast enough to prevent sea life growing on the hull.
“congratulations and heartfelt thanks to all the submariners involved in the arduous task of keeping the nation safe by deterring nuclear threats 24 hours a day.”
Hear,hear. One of the most critical jobs in the country, performed by so few. Thank you.
Firstly welcome home HMS VANGUARD.
That’s one heck of deployment.
All respect to our Royal Navy and what they do to protect us all from harm.
I’ve seen some of our ships get attacked by pirates in the waters. Still not backing off when the Navy is finally given permission to fire back.
It’s a hell of a job they all have to do.
And do it, they do, ” protect and serve.”
It’s what all members of our Military do. Without asking questions.
It’s hard on them and there families and wives and children.
For me it is just a waiting game.
Hopefully they come back with little damage or loss of life.
I Thank You For Your Service
As a father of a currently serving member of crew I can say the length of patrols has got horrendous. They are now doing double patrols at a minimum. My sons last patrol was over 200 days!!!! And no they don’t just pop up and restock, they leave faslane submerge and then resurface at the end of the patrol. Its horrendous for the families. But, he’s proud to serve his country, as I am of him. You sleep well at night because he gives his all to protect this country.
That’s 7 months doesn’t bare thinking about.
God bless to your son and all the rest of his crew.
No one understands unless you actually served. What it’s like.
Or joining the real world when you come home.
Or what families feel every moment of every day there away.
On another tack, do they do any biology on the encrustaceans to see if you could lessen their growth?
Outstanding achievement but what price to proudly maintain CASD for the past 55 years, 24/7/365. I take my hat off and incredible respect for them all, in particular the families left at home with no communication from their loved ones and only 24 hours notice of when they will return; plus the anxiety of the crew that all have remained safe at home whilst they have been absent. On return from a Christmas patrol it was upsetting to hear that my young son had asked “do I have a daddy”. The Nation, let alone PM and tribe, have no comprehension of the dedicated sacrifices made by these gallant crews. God bless them and their families.
Chevaline and others
PS Chevaline – you are really showing your age by using that particular name. I must point out to you that none of the youngsters reading this Navy Lookout site will understand its significance……
Peter, I had the privilege of squeezing the trigger on no less than 4 successful Chevaline Acceptance Firings (CAF followed by a backward DASO) and conducted the first Chevaline test patrol (covered by another boat) and subsequent patrols. A remarkable British achievement for which the brilliant and dedicated project managers and scientists were never acknowledged.
Chevaline
I will now be the fist to say= yours is a very impressive service record.
It was one which which, you as have rightly said above, was “never properly acknowledged
regards Peter (irate Taxpayer)
Surely patrols of this length will affect retention of submariners.