Friday, November 21, 2008

Vanguard

IOC: 1993
Total Production: 4

Origin
United Kingdom

Contractor/s
BAE Systems

Guided Missiles:
Trident II (16)

Torpedoes:
Spearfish

Sensors & Communications:
Sonar 2054

Description: The Vanguard-class ballistic submarines (SSBN) provide the United Kingdom strategic nuclear deterrent. These submarines are powered by a single PWR2 nuclear reactor. They are armed with 16 Trident II ballistic missiles carrying up to 12 nuclear warheads (NWH), nevertheless typically they carry only 6 NHWs. The Vanguard-class submarines have 4 533mm torpedo tubes to launch Spearfish torpedoes for self-defense purposes.

The Vanguard fleet is always connected to Britain's authorities in order to keep their nuclear weapons under firm political control. Overall Vanguard submarines performance is equivalent to US Ohio class submarines but with fewer displacement and number of ballistic missiles. The Vanguard submarines will remain as the cornerstone of the British nuclear deterrent policy well into the 21st century.

The Royal Navy ordered 4 Vanguard-class submarines starting in 1993 and ending in 1999 with the commissioning of HMS Vengeance. The HMS Vanguard achieved operational capability in 1993 and since then it has become the cornerstone of the British nuclear deterrent.

Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 135

Dimensions: Height 12 m, Length 150 m, Width 12.8 m

Weights: Max Weight 15,900 t

Performance: Service Life 25 yr, Top Speed 13 mps (25 kt)

Other: Torpedo Tubes 4

News
Trident II D5 Missile Achieves 124 Successful Test Launches in a Row

Rolls-Royce and UK MoD Sign 10-Year Nuclear-Powered Submarine Support Contract

Great Britain to Keep Nuclear Deterrent Beyond 2020

Royal Navy Completes Test Launch of Trident II Missile

Operators

United Kingdom / 4

Ships

S28 HMS Vanguard

Commissioning: 1993

S29 HMS Victorious

Commissioning: 1995

S30 HMS Vigilant

Commissioning: 1996

S31 HMS Vengeance

Commissioning: 1999

Image Gallery

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Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, October 25, 2008

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