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Vanguard Class Submarines

HMS Vanguard

The Royal Navy has two types of submarine:

• Ballistic Submarine SSBN
• Fleet Submarines (SSN)

Submarines of the Royal Navy are referred to as boats, not ships.

Ballistic Submarine (SSBN)

The Royal Navy has 4 Ballistic Submarines (SSBN). All are of the Vanguard Class and designated Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN). The submarines were all built at Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited (VSEL), Barrow-in-Furness where a special facility to build the submarines was constructed. They were launched between March 1992 and September 1998

The Vanguard Class SSBN provides the United Kingdom’s Strategic Nuclear Deterrent with each ship capable of being armed with a maximum of 16 Trident D5 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM’s) that carry up to 128 warheads. It is because of the strategic deterrent offered by these vessels that little is known regarding their operational deployments. The boats also carry the Spearfish torpedo which has both an anti-submarine and anti-ship capability.

With a dived displacement of over 15,000 tons the submarine is powered by a Rolls Royce Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR2) giving it an underwater speed of 25 knots (approximately 46 kmph) and an unlimited operational range. The propulsion systems available also include two GEC turbines.

The Royal Navy has the following Vanguard Class (SSBN’s) serving within the fleet:

HMS Vengeance
HMS Victorious
HMS Vigilant
HMS Vanguard

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