A Trident nuclear submarine has concluded a historic deployment, returning to the Faslane naval base in Scotland after spending 217 days submerged. The vessel, HMS Vengeance, began its patrol on 12 April and completed its mission on Sunday. Senior government officials are expected to greet the crew upon their arrival, marking the end of a voyage that significantly exceeded previous records for the class.
The mission surpasses the previous 205-day record held by HMS Vanguard. The extended duration has sparked debate regarding the physical and psychological strain placed on sailors, as well as the reliability of the aging fleet. David Cullen, a nuclear expert at the Basic thinktank, noted that patrols are becoming increasingly longer. He emphasized that the fleet was originally designed for three-month tours, a duration that was once considered exceptionally long for life in a metal box with no contact with the outside world.
The increase in time spent at sea is largely attributed to the slow pace of submarine maintenance. The Labour government has blamed spending cuts implemented by the Conservatives for these delays, although naval leadership insists there is a plan to improve the situation. HMS Vengeance is one of four submarines responsible for carrying Britain’s Trident nuclear missiles. At any given time, one boat remains at sea to ensure the UK can launch strikes even if the country had been destroyed in a nuclear war.
When the Vanguard class submarines entered service in the 1990s, they were designed to carry three to four months of food for crews of about 140. Deployments exceeding 100 days were considered rare. Today, missions begin with tinned food crammed into corridors and other available spaces to sustain the crew for the longer durations. To maintain secrecy and avoid being targeted, the submarines keep their locations hidden and cannot be resupplied. The boats maintain radio silence, preventing the crew from sending messages, though they can still receive news and information from the outside world.
The length of these patrols has turned the return of a Trident submarine, known as a day zero, into a political event. Prime Minister Keir Starmer made an unannounced visit when the previous patrol ended in April to praise the crew. Concerns have grown about the psychological impact of spending seven months in a 150-meter-long boat, particularly as the Royal Navy faces challenges in recruiting new personnel.
Last week, the head of the Royal Navy, Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins, expressed tremendous respect for the Trident sailors. However, he added that the UK needed to improve submarine maintenance to allow for faster turnaround times. The submarine service follows a no touching rule, which prohibits physical intimacy on board, though it has had to address allegations of sexual abuse and harassment during deployments.
In October 2024, the then first sea lord apologized to women in the submarine service for misogyny, bullying, and other unacceptable behaviors. This followed an inquiry into complaints by whistleblower Sophie Brook, who described a constant campaign of sexual bullying. The inquiry also examined reports of rape, physical, and verbal abuse, with findings detailed in a heavily redacted report.
Each Trident submarine can carry 40 nuclear warheads, possessing enough destructive power to destroy Moscow and several other major Russian cities. The captain carries a letter from the prime minister with instructions on how to proceed if it is determined that the UK no longer exists after a nuclear attack. Because of the long patrol, HMS Vengeance is still carrying Starmer’s letter. The replacement submarine on rotation will have instructions written by Andy Burnham, who took over at Downing Street after Starmer’s departure.
In July, Labour announced a 26 billion pound, 10-year plan to invest in Britain’s three main naval bases, including Faslane, Devonport, and Portsmouth. This investment is part of a wider increase in defense spending. However, the first replacement for the Vanguard class, HMS Dreadnought, is not expected to be ready until around 2032. This means the current vessels will remain in service for at least five more years. Cullen warned that the inherent risks of operating submarines are being pushed by their current usage, arguing that at the end of their design life, they should be run gently rather than as hard as they currently are.
