Vanguard Rededication

In a parade watched on by the Fleet Commander and families of her crew, HMS Vanguard was rededicated into the Royal Navy today (16th July) in a ceremony held at Devonport Naval Base.

Commissioned in August 1993, HMS Vanguard is the lead boat of a four-strong class of nuclear-powered submarines whose role is to provide our nuclear deterrent.

At 150 metres the submarine is almost as long as St Paul’s Cathedral, carrying out her duties silently and undetected, patrolling the world’s oceans at depths in excess of 250 metres. With the capability to generate her own supply of water and oxygen, Vanguard’s range is limited only by the amount of food the submarine can carry onboard.

Vanguard’s two separate crews take it in turns on duty while their opposite numbers are on leave or train at their home base of Faslane in Scotland.

HMS Vanguard’s Commanding Officer, Commander Ben Smith, said: “This is a great day for my Ship’s Company as we rededicate the submarine and I look forward to delivering our upcoming Operations and future Deterrent Patrols. Having served previously on HMS Vanguard as the Executive Officer, I am honoured to be the Commanding Officer as we move to the next phase of our maintenance programme which will bring the Submarine back into Fleet Time. It is fantastic to share this moment with so many of our families and friends in attendance today.”

Vanguard’s Deep Maintenance Period is one of the most comprehensive refit and refuelling projects undertaken at Devonport, involving complex and challenging engineering work. She is the first boat of her class to receive an extensive life extension package of works that will support the remaining Boat life without further refuelling.

Paul Watson, Managing Director of Babcock’s Devonport operations said: “Today marks an important milestone in the deep-maintenance programme of HMS Vanguard as she is rededicated into the Royal Navy. This has been a complex programme which has seen Babcock deliver 5.5 million working hours, including renewing 38,000 anechoic tiles which are vital to the submarine’s effective operation. This has only been possible due to the strong co-operation with the Royal Navy and Submarine Delivery Agency, alongside the commitment and expertise of our workforce here in the South West. I would like to thank everyone involved for all they have achieved in reaching this point and look forward to handing HMS Vanguard back to the Royal Navy in excellent condition to continue her critical role within the UK’s submarine fleet.”

Although today was a special day for all the Ship’s Company, for one crew member it was an extra special day. Warrant Officer Richard Smith (Smudge) first joined HMS Vanguard in 1991 when the boat was in build as a young junior Marine Engineering Mechanic. Richard remembers: “When I joined the boat, she was still in three pieces and the Main Machinery Space was just a huge void. I am immensely proud once again to be part of HMS Vanguard’s Ship’s Company and never thought at the outset of my adventure on board that I would be here in Plymouth bringing it back into service 30 years down the line.

I was a young 24-year old Stoker when I joined the boat in Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-In-Furness back in 1991. All the tubes were still being aligned and the hull was awaiting its final coming together and welding shut. It has been marvelous today, being a part of the rededication ceremony getting ready to get her back into the Fleet.”

HMS Vanguard is part of the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent which has existed for over 60 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, helping to guarantee our safety, and that of our NATO allies.

It is our ultimate security guarantee and the country’s number one defence priority.

The risk of nuclear conflict remains remote, but the threats the UK faces are increasing in scale, diversity and complexity. That is why we must be able to deter the most extreme acts of aggression against us and our NATO allies.

The UK’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent would not be possible without the skill and dedication of the men and women of the submarine service. They place their duty to protect the UK above all else, missing out on many things we take for granted to help keep us safe.

Designing, building, maintaining and operating the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent is a national endeavour, directly supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the country.

During her refit package, around 2,500 people have worked on the project, 21,851 items were removed and handled in Babcock’s site shops and factories, 38,000 tiles have been replaced and around 32,000 litres of paint has been applied to the submarine, making HMS Vanguard the most extensive submarine refit ever carried out at Devonport.

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