Alternatives – The UK needs an actual defence strategy<\/h2><\/a>\n READ MORE <\/i><\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nCatalogue of failures<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFunny though this would be if it wasn\u2019t so deadly serious, the failed launch is just the tip of the iceberg of a whole catalogue of failures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Delays, cost overruns and dangerous incompetence give the lie to the grandiose claims made by the British government about its vastly expensive weapons of mass destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a backstory to this too. The submarine that launched the missile, HMS Vanguard<\/em>, was required to undertake the test because it had just come out of a \u201cdeep maintenance period\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\nVanguard<\/em> was sent to the Navy\u2019s Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth in 2015 for a major refit, scheduled to take three years. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, delays and malfunctions meant the refit actually lasted seven years. Costs ballooned from under \u00a3300 million to over \u00a3500 million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Delays included the discovery that superglue was used by workers to attach broken bolts to the submarine\u2019s nuclear reactor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apparently the Trident test failure won\u2019t prevent Vanguard<\/em> from returning to active service. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFleet-wide issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOther serious concerns have emerged about the fleet of four Vanguard-class submarines that carry Britain\u2019s nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, only two of the submarines have been operational. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Vanguard<\/em> was out of action in Devonport, HMS Victorious<\/em> suffered a fire onboard in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\nA blaze broke out in an electrical component in one of the submarine\u2019s systems and it had to surface in the North Atlantic and return to port in Faslane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is now in dry dock at Devonport for repair and maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last November, a faulty depth gauge on one of the subs resulted in the vessel continuing to dive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It almost approached crush depth before submariners noticed the equipment had malfunctioned and corrected course, narrowly averting disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to maintain the co-called \u201ccontinuous at-sea deterrent\u201d, with one submarine out on patrol at all times, these subs \u2013 and their crews – have been forced to undergo longer and longer missions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last September, one was spotted returning to port covered in barnacles and slime after a record six month patrol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2022 it was reported that the lack of available Vanguard-class submarines meant crews were increasingly serving tours in excess of 150 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By comparison, the average patrol on the previous generation of nuclear vessels rarely exceeded 60-70 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n RELATED<\/h3>\n \n \n \n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n Britain\u2019s nuclear arsenal<\/h2><\/a>\n READ MORE <\/i><\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nJobs for the boys<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn addition to concerns about the state of the vessels, there have also been concerns about the impact these extended tours have on crew discipline, morale, and psychological well being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Royal Navy has already opened an investigation into claims by female submariners working on Vanguard-class subs of sexual abuse and bullying by male colleagues and senior officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not surprisingly, questions have also been raised about Babcock, the arms company responsible for running the Devonport dockyard and maintaining the Vanguard fleet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Funny though this would be if it wasn\u2019t so deadly serious, the failed launch is just the tip of the iceberg of a whole catalogue of failures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Delays, cost overruns and dangerous incompetence give the lie to the grandiose claims made by the British government about its vastly expensive weapons of mass destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a backstory to this too. The submarine that launched the missile, HMS Vanguard<\/em>, was required to undertake the test because it had just come out of a \u201cdeep maintenance period\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vanguard<\/em> was sent to the Navy\u2019s Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth in 2015 for a major refit, scheduled to take three years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, delays and malfunctions meant the refit actually lasted seven years. Costs ballooned from under \u00a3300 million to over \u00a3500 million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Delays included the discovery that superglue was used by workers to attach broken bolts to the submarine\u2019s nuclear reactor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apparently the Trident test failure won\u2019t prevent Vanguard<\/em> from returning to active service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other serious concerns have emerged about the fleet of four Vanguard-class submarines that carry Britain\u2019s nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, only two of the submarines have been operational. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While Vanguard<\/em> was out of action in Devonport, HMS Victorious<\/em> suffered a fire onboard in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A blaze broke out in an electrical component in one of the submarine\u2019s systems and it had to surface in the North Atlantic and return to port in Faslane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is now in dry dock at Devonport for repair and maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last November, a faulty depth gauge on one of the subs resulted in the vessel continuing to dive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It almost approached crush depth before submariners noticed the equipment had malfunctioned and corrected course, narrowly averting disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to maintain the co-called \u201ccontinuous at-sea deterrent\u201d, with one submarine out on patrol at all times, these subs \u2013 and their crews – have been forced to undergo longer and longer missions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Last September, one was spotted returning to port covered in barnacles and slime after a record six month patrol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2022 it was reported that the lack of available Vanguard-class submarines meant crews were increasingly serving tours in excess of 150 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By comparison, the average patrol on the previous generation of nuclear vessels rarely exceeded 60-70 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to concerns about the state of the vessels, there have also been concerns about the impact these extended tours have on crew discipline, morale, and psychological well being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Royal Navy has already opened an investigation into claims by female submariners working on Vanguard-class subs of sexual abuse and bullying by male colleagues and senior officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not surprisingly, questions have also been raised about Babcock, the arms company responsible for running the Devonport dockyard and maintaining the Vanguard fleet. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFleet-wide issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
RELATED<\/h3>\n
Britain\u2019s nuclear arsenal<\/h2><\/a>\n READ MORE <\/i><\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Jobs for the boys<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n