Hello everyone, you are watching another episode of Military TV. In today’s session, we will
discuss Vanguard-Class, The Royal Navy Submarine Which is Armed with 192 Nuclear Warheads. If you
are curious about the details of this sub, don’t go anywhere, stay tuned only at this channel.
The Vanguard class is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines in service with the
Royal Navy. The class was introduced in 1994 as part of the Trident nuclear programme,
and comprises four vessels, including: • The Vanguard (S28), which was laid
down on September 3rd, 1986, launched on March 4th, 1992, and commissioned in 1993.
• The Victorious (S29), which was laid down on December 3rd, 1987, launched on September 29th,
1993, and commissioned in 1995. • The Vigilant (S30), which
was laid down on February 16th, 1991, launched on October 14th,
1995, and commissioned in 1996. • and The Vengeance (S31) which
was laid down on February 1st, 1993, launched on September 19th, 1998, and commissioned in 1999.
For the information, all these four submarines are currently still in
active service. They were built between 1986 and 1999 at Barrow-in-Furness by
Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering which is now owned by BAE Systems. All four boats
are based at HM Naval Base Clyde that is 40 km west of Glasgow, Scotland.
Moreover, the Royal Navy’s four Vanguard-class nuclear-powered submarines currently serves as
the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent force. They are the largest submarines ever constructed in
the UK and are also the third-largest type of vessel in the Royal Navy. The Vanguard-class subs
were originally intended for a service life of twenty-five years and will be replaced as the new
Dreadnaught-class of ballistic missile submarines that is set to enter service beginning in 2024.
Each submarine is powered by a Rolls-Royce PWR2 nuclear reactor, with two GEC turbines
and has a single shaft and a single pump-jet propulsor and two WH Allen turbo generators.
Let’s take a look at some characteristics of this sub
The Vanguard-class submarines are equipped with 16 ballistic missile tubes. However,
as of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Royal Navy loads only eight of
the missile tubes with the Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles,
each armed with up to eight nuclear warheads. In addition to the missile tubes,
the submarines are equipped with four torpedo tubes and carry the Spearfish heavyweight torpedo,
allowing them to engage submerged or surface targets at ranges up to 65 kilometres. Two SSE
Mark 10 launchers are also fitted, allowing the boats to deploy Type 2066 and Type 2071 decoys,
and a UAP Mark 3 electronic support measures (ESM) intercept system.
Regarding the propulsion, new pressurised water reactor, the Rolls-Royce PWR 2,
was designed for the Vanguard class. The PWR 2 has double the service life of previous models,
and it is estimated that a Vanguard-class submarine could circumnavigate the world
40 times without refuelling. Furthermore, during their long-overhaul refit periods,
a 'Core H' reactor is fitted to each of the boats, ensuring that none of the submarines
will require further re-fuelling for the rest of their service lives.
Why is this sub considered the largest one in the Royal Navy?
The Vanguard-class submarines are the largest submarines ever built in the United Kingdom,
measuring about 150 meters in length and weighing more than 16,000 tons. The submarines have twice
the displacement of the Resolution-class Polaris submarines. Because of the size of the boats,
a special production facility was established to handle the Vanguard
and her sister submarines' construction. Even though the subs’ size was enlarged to
accommodate the Trident D5 missile, yet the complement of the class is small at
just 132 officers and sailors, compared to the Polaris boats, which had a crew of 149.
The 16-tube missile compartment on the new Trident submarines is based on the 24-tube
system utilized on the United States Navy’s Ohio-class Trident submarines. The United States
is in charge of missile maintenance, while the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston
was in charge of all design, manufacturing, and installation, as well as warhead maintenance.
What are some of the advancements of this submarine?
The Vanguard-class was also designed with several significant enhancement, including a new design
of the nuclear propulsion system as well as a new tactical weapon system or self-defence purposes,
both before and after a missile launch. The submarines are equipped with one to
three warheads depending on the mission under "normal" conditions however each Vanguard-class
submarine can carry 192 warheads. In September 2009, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told
the United Nations General Assembly that the country was willing to reduce its Vanguard-class
submarine force by one. Brown indicated that the offer was made to persuade other nuclear-powered
countries to work toward a world free of nuclear weapons. However, such a scheme was carried out.
Besides serving as a nuclear deterrent, the Vanguard-class boats are also fitted
with four 21-inch torpedo tubes and able to carry up to 16 Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes that can
be directed by copper wire or by autonomous active or pass sonar. When operating at a full speed, the
Spearfish can hit a target up to 14 miles away and at a range of more than 30 miles at low speed. The
torpedoes may carry a 660-pound explosive charge, providing the sub with both anti-submarine (ASW)
and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities. The subs are also equipped with world-beating sonar,
which is sensitive to hear vessels from more than 50 miles away. This will help ensure that
the Vanguard-class live up to its nickname and continues to lead an advancing naval l force.
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awesome videos. That’s all for today, thanks for watching and see you in the next episode!