A Trident nuclear submarine, HMS Vengeance, has concluded a record seven-month deployment, returning to the Faslane naval base in Scotland. The submarine began its patrol on 12 April and spent 217 days submerged before its return on Sunday.
This tour surpasses the previous record of 205 days, leading to questions regarding the reliability of ageing submarines and the strains placed on sailors during extended missions. David Cullen, a nuclear expert with the Basic thinktank, noted that patrols are becoming longer, despite the fleet being designed for three-month tours.
The increased time at sea is attributed to the slow pace of submarine maintenance. Labour has blamed Conservative spending cuts for this, though naval chiefs maintain there is a plan for improvement. Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins, head of the Royal Navy, stated last week that the UK needs to "improve our submarine maintenance" to allow for faster turnaround.
HMS Vengeance is one of four submarines responsible for carrying Britain’s Trident nuclear missiles. The Vanguard class submarines, brought into service in the 1990s, were designed to carry three to four months of food, with deployments over 100 days considered highly exceptional. Current missions reportedly begin with tinned food stored in corridors.
The first replacement for the Vanguard class submarines, HMS Dreadnought, is not expected to be ready until approximately 2032, meaning the existing boats are projected to remain in service for at least five more years.