HMS Vigilant (S30)

	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; (Sea trials post refit);
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 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes for:; Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes; 16 ballistic missile tubes for:; 16 × Lockheed Trident II D5 SLBMs (carrying up to 48 nuclear warhead);

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.

The French Navy also have a SSBN in service called Vigilant.

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.

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.^[3] Vigilant returned to the fleet on 27 March 2012 after her £300m refit.^[4]^[5] In 2013, she test fired her main weapon, a firing of the Trident D5 after three years.^[6]

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

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group Limited. p. 794. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.
^ Royal Navy Vanguard class submarine, royalnavy.mod.uk
^ "HMS Vigilant Arrives In Devonport for Major Refit". RN. 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
^ "HMS Vigilant SSBN in for GBP 300 million refit". Defense Industry Daily.com. 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
^ "HMS Vigilant: Torpoint Ferry suspended for submarine departure". BBC.co.uk. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
^ Vigilant crew honoured for work leading to successful missile test firing, royalnavy.mod.uk, 05/06/2013

External links

Royal Navy HMS Vigilant (royalnavy.mod.uk)

[Janes-1] Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group Limited. p. 794. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.

[2] Royal Navy Vanguard class submarine, royalnavy.mod.uk

[3] "HMS Vigilant Arrives In Devonport for Major Refit". RN. 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-10-13.

[4] "HMS Vigilant SSBN in for GBP 300 million refit". Defense Industry Daily.com. 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2009-04-01.

[5] "HMS Vigilant: Torpoint Ferry suspended for submarine departure". BBC.co.uk. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2012-03-27.

[6] Vigilant crew honoured for work leading to successful missile test firing, royalnavy.mod.uk, 05/06/2013

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Vanguard-class submarines
Vanguard Victorious Vigilant Vengeance
Preceded by: Resolution class Followed by: Dreadnought class
List of submarines of the Royal Navy List of submarine classes of the Royal Navy