HMS Vigilant (S30)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Vigilant.

A Vanguard-class submarine seen from ahead
Career (UK)
Laid down:	16 February 1991
Launched:	14 October 1995
Commissioned:	2 November 1996
Homeport:	HMNB Clyde
Fate:	in refit
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Vanguard-class submarine
Displacement:	Dived: 15,900 long tons (16,200 t)
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:	Dived: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range:	Unlimited distance; 20-25 years
Complement:	14 officers 121 enlisted
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 1 × Pilkington Optronics CK51 search periscope 1 × Pilkington Optronics CH91 attack periscope
Electronic warfare and decoys:	2 × SSE Mk10 launchers for Type 2066 and Type 2071 torpedo decoys RESM Racal UAP passive intercept
Armament:	4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes for Spearfish torpedoes 16 × ballistic missile tubes for 16 x Lockheed Trident D5 SLBMs carrying up to 192 warheads

HMS Vigilant is the third Vanguard-class submarine 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.

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 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.

General characteristics

• Displacement: 16,000 tons submerged
• Propulsion: Rolls-Royce PWR2 reactor, two GEC turbines, single shaft, pump jet propulsor
• Electrical Power: two Paxman diesel generators, two WH Allen turbogenerators
• Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h) submerged
• Complement: 14 officers, 121 men
• Strategic Armament: 16 Lockheed Trident II D5 ballistic missiles
• Defensive Armament: four 533 mm (21-inch) torpedo tubes, Spearfish torpedoes

External links

• In pictures: On board HMS Trident, (BBC pictures of HMS Vigilant's interior)