As such, the missile compartment is based on the same system used on the American Ohio class, which is also equipped with the UGM-133 Trident II. They were designed from the outset as nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, able to accommodate the UGM-133 Trident II missiles. The guidance drawings were then supplied for detailed design development by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (VSEL) based at Barrow-in-Furness, now BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines. The Vanguard class were designed in the early 1980s by the Ministry of Defence, acting in one of its last Royal Navy warship design authority roles. The 25,000 m 2 (270,000 sq ft) Devonshire Dock Hall indoor shipbuilding complex An agreement was made in March 1982 between the two countries, and under the agreement, Britain made a 5% research and development contribution. However, following the acceleration of the US UGM-133 Trident II missiles, Thatcher wrote to US President Ronald Reagan in 1982 requesting the United Kingdom be allowed to procure the improved system instead. Subsequently, on 10 July 1980, the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher wrote to US President Jimmy Carter requesting the purchase of Trident I missiles on a similar basis as the 1963 Polaris Sales Agreement. ![]() The clear favourite was the UGM-96 Trident I, which as well as being a cost-effective solution – given the US would also operate the missile in vast numbers – also delivered the overall best long-term capability insurances against Soviet advancements in ballistic missile defence. Also, it was concluded that any initial capital savings would have been lost beyond the 1990s, due to the high cost of sustaining a small stockpile of bespoke missiles kept only in British service.Ī European solution and the US UGM-73 Poseidon were also briefly considered, but ultimately rejected, primarily on capability, cost and uncertainty grounds. Retain Polaris, but fitted on a new submarine class This option would have a cheaper "initial capital cost", but would lack in terms of required capability and reliability.Thus the option was considered "unattractive". However, it would be very expensive, would be full of uncertainty and would not be available within the required time period. A British designed and built ballistic missile Although Britain had had no capability in this field since the 1960s, it was considered to "not be impossible".On 24 January 1980, the House of Commons backed government policy, by 308 votes to 52, to retain an independent nuclear deterrent. In the early 1980s the British government began studies examining options for replacing the Resolution-class submarines and their Polaris missiles, both of which would be approaching the end of their service lives within little over a decade. This nuclear deterrent system was known as the UK Polaris programme. The Polaris missile was supplied to Britain following the terms of the 1963 Polaris Sales Agreement. Development Trident programme īeginning in the late 1960s, the United Kingdom operated four Resolution-class submarines, each armed with sixteen US-built UGM-27 Polaris missiles. ![]() The class is scheduled to be replaced starting in the early 2030s with the Dreadnought-class submarine. Each submarine is armed with up to 16 UGM-133 Trident II missiles. Since the decommissioning of the Royal Air Force WE.177 free-fall thermonuclear weapons during March 1998, the four Vanguard submarines are the sole platforms for the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons. All four boats are based at HM Naval Base Clyde (HMS Neptune), 40 km (25 mi) west of Glasgow, Scotland. The class was introduced in 1994 as part of the Trident nuclear programme, and comprises four vessels: Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance, built between 19 at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, now owned by BAE Systems. The Vanguard class is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) in service with the Royal Navy. 8–16 Lockheed Trident II D5 SLBMs (carrying up to 8 warheads each).4 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes for:.Two SSE Mk10 launchers for Type 2066 and Type 2071 torpedo decoys.Pilkington Optronics CH91 attack periscope.Pilkington Optronics CK51 search periscope. ![]()
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