HMS Vanguard (S28)

History of HMS Vanguard (S28)

The HMS Vanguard (S28) is similar in use to the Ohio-class family of nuclear-powered, missile-laden American ships. The Pioneer submarine itself is the largest submarine ever built in the UK and the third largest ship in service with the Royal Navy. The Vanguard class was developed to replace the Resolution class, which are similar strategically oriented submarines but armed with Lockheed Polaris nuclear-launched ballistic missiles.

The newer Vanguard, equipped with Lockheed Trident ballistic missiles, is represented by her badge, which features the silhouette of a golden lion with a spear clutched in its front claws, a well-armed and well-constructed ship. The HMS Vanguard is the 11th Royal Navy ship to bear the "Vanguard name".

On July 15, 1980, the British government pushed for the purchase of American-made Trident I (C-4) ballistic missiles for deployment from submarines. Missiles became a proven means of attacking and destroying enemy missile silos and fortifications deep underground. Two years later, it was decided to buy upgraded Trident II (D5) missiles, as well as the four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines used to launch them.

The four submarines became the Vanguard class, led by HMS Vanguard and soon joined by their sisters HMS Victorious, HMS Vigilant and HMS Vengeance. Each ship will have a tube section similar to the Ohio-class submarine to facilitate the design and construction of these key systems, although aside from these tubes and missiles, the overall design will be entirely British. While Ohio-class submarines can deploy up to 24 Trident II missiles, Pioneer-class submarines will carry 16 of these weapons through reusable launch tubes.

Following the retirement of the WE177 tactical nuclear gravity/depth bomb in 1988, the Vanguard became the last nuclear-capable weapon system in the UK. Ultimately, the entire Trident Fleet cost around ?12.57 billion to build, and is said to cost ?200 million a year to operate.

In terms of armament, the Pioneer is ready to launch torpedoes or sea-based missiles. The former consisted of 4 x 21 inch (533 mm) tubes for launching heavy Spearfish torpedoes.

These 80-knot torpedoes can be powered by autonomous active or passive homing sonar, or likewise guided by wire to the target. The spearfish became a dual-purpose weapon system capable of attacking enemy submarines or surface ships below the waterline as needed.

The Sea-Based Missile Package consists of 16 Trident D5 SLBMs (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles). These large rockets, like the Polestar before them, originated in the United States and were developed by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, California. Each missile is designed to carry a total of 128 warheads (up to 192). In fact, as the Royal Navy says, the number of warheads deployed has never exceeded 96 and was further reduced to just 48 following the release of the UK Strategic Defence Review salvo, with warheads still empty, awaiting re-installation. With the end of the Cold War, more and more economic considerations, arms reduction treaties, etc., the strategic role of such missile-oriented ships has also diminished.

As a result, the Vanguard-class fire readiness status has been reduced from "minutes" to "days".

On February 4, 2009, HMS Pioneer collided with the French submarine "Triumph" in the Atlantic Ocean. The crash caused structural damage, but HMS Vanguard was allowed to return to Fasland, Scotland to carry out repairs on its own. At the time of writing, she is actively involved in the Royal Navy.

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