HMS Vanguard (S28) is the 10th vessel of the Royal Navy to bear the name and is the lead boat of her class of Trident ballistic missile-armed submarines. The sub is based at HMNB Clyde.
The first hull section of Vanguard had provided the dramatic backdrop to then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as she opened Barrow'’'s Devonshire Dock Hall in September 1986.
Hundreds of people lined Michaelson Road in August 1993 to watch Vanguard leave Barrow ready for the official handing over to the Royal Navy.
The submarine's first commanding officer was Captain David Russell.
In February 2002, Vanguard began a two-year refit at HMNB Devonport. The refit was completed in June 2004 and in October 2005, Vanguard completed her return to service trials with the firing of an unarmed Trident missile. During this refit, Vanguard was illegally boarded by a pair of antinuclear protestors.
Vanguard and the French nuclear submarine Triomphant collided somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.
On February 6 the French Ministry of Defence reported that Triomphant "collided with an immersed object (probably a container)". The UK Ministry of Defence initially would not comment that the incident took place but it was confirmed on February 16 by First Sea Lord Sir Jonathon Band. He said that the collision occurred at low speed, and that there had been no injuries. Both vessels were damaged. Vanguard received damage to the outer casing in the area of the missile compartment on the starboard (right) side.
HMS Vanguard was rededicated into the Royal Navy in a ceremony held at Devonport Naval Base.
The parade was attended by the fleet commander and families of the crew. A rededication ceremony is a traditional part of any Royal Navy vessel’s life after completing a period of refit and improvement.
Official
SSBN2 Specification
Length overall
149.9m
Beam
12.8m
Draught
12m
Displacement
15900 tons (submerged)
Speed
25 knots (submerged)
No. of shafts
1
Propulsion
Pump jet propulsor
Armament
16 x Lockheed Trident 2 (D5) (UGM-133A)
4 x Torpedo tubes for Tigerfish or Spearfish torpedoes
RNSH (Royal Navy Sub-Harpoon) anti-ship missiles
Reactor
1 x Rolls Royce PWR-2
Turbines
2 x GEC Turbines
Generators
2 x WH Allen turbo generators. 2 Paxman diesel alternators (2,700 hp)
Power
27,500 shp
Endurance
8-9 years
Countermeasures
2 x SSE Mk 10 Launchers for Type 2066 and 2071 decoys
ESM; Racal UAP 3, intercept
Sensors
Type 2046 Towed array
Type 2054, 2043 & 2082 sonar
Dowly Sema SMCS Combat Data System
Dowty tactical control system SAFS 3 FCS.
Type 1007 Navigation radar
Complement
135 (2 crews)
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The definitive reference guide to tracing your family history. Covering all access levels, from the new beginner to the more experienced researcher, the Encyclopaedia of Genealogy is a comprehensive master class in solving the mysteries of your personal heritage.
The definitive reference guide to tracing your family history. Covering all access levels, from the new beginner to the more experienced researcher, the Encyclopaedia of Genealogy is a comprehensive master class in solving the mysteries of your personal heritage.
This form is for you to comment on, or add additional information to this page. Any questions will be deleted. If you wish to ask a question contact the Branch or the Webmaster using the Contact Us page or ask your question on our Facebook Page