Tag Archives: British SSBN

Fear God and Dread Nought

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Every day our ballistic missile submarines are used to deter the most extreme threats to Britain’s security. We cannot know what dangers we might face in the 2030s, 2040s and 2050s, so we are building the new Dreadnought class. Along with increasing the defence budget to buy new ships, more planes, and armoured vehicles, this commitment shows we will never gamble with our security.-- Defence Secretary Michael Fallon

“Every day our ballistic missile submarines are used to deter the most extreme threats to Britain’s security. We cannot know what dangers we might face in the 2030s, 2040s and 2050s, so we are building the new Dreadnought class. Along with increasing the defence budget to buy new ships, more planes, and armoured vehicles, this commitment shows we will never gamble with our security,”– Defence Secretary Michael Fallon

There have been something like 10- 11 previous “Dreadnoughts” in the Royal Navy going back to a 40-gun ship built in 1553 to include the revolutionary HMS Dreadnought of 1906 which, with her “all-big-gun” armarment was literally the dividing line between old and new battleships.

With the name being such an icon of the Great War era, the Brits recycled it for their first nuclear-powered submarine, (S101) launched in 1960.

Now, the vintage and storied name has been tapped to bring what will likely be the last class of British ballistic missile submarines into the 21st Century.

The 17,200-ton SSBNs of her class will be capable of carrying 8-12 Trident D-5 SLBMs and will be the UKs sole nuclear deterrent– a role left to HMs submarines since the last WE.177C tactical nuclear bombs were retired from the RAF’s Tornado force in 1998.

From the RN’s presser:

At 152.9m (501ft) long, the new boats will be three metres longer than their V-boat predecessors, but displace 1,300 more tonnes.

Dreadnought is also due to be fitted with a new lighting system which can imitate night and day – making it easier for crew to get used to normal life after three months submerged.

There will be nearly 13,000 electrical items aboard, enough piping to cover the distance of a marathon and 20,000 pieces of cable stretching 215 miles, or from the boats’ future home in Faslane to Leeds.

For the first time in a British submarine, there’ll be a dedicated compartment for studying, a gym (rather than gym kit squeezed into odd spaces), and separate quarters for female crew.

When in full swing, the Dreadnought class will be the biggest defense project in the UK.

hms-dreadnnought

RN to trim UAVs, but will at least keep the boomers

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The aging HM Submarine Vanguard (S28), commissioned in 1993, is the lead ship of the RN's four boomers.

The aging HM Submarine Vanguard (S28), commissioned in 1993, is the lead ship of the RN’s four boomers.

It looks like the Brits will keep their SSBN fleet for another generation with MPs voting overwhelmingly in favor of renewing their aging Trident submarine fleet by 471 to 117. Opponents to the renewal of the Faslane, Scotland-based subs came from the Scottish National Party (SNP) and parts of the Labour Party, however new PM Theresa May stressed lawmakers to back Trident, not only to protect Britain from growing threats from Russia and North Korea, but also to protect thousands of jobs in Scotland and elsewhere post-Brexit.

The Brits, along with former WWII Big Five countries U.S., Russia, France and China, are the only operators of SSBNs, and the only other country besides the U.S. to operate Trident SLBMs (D5 variants) from their four 15,900-ton Vanguard -class submarines.

They form the UKs only nuclear deterrent.

Meanwhile, maritime surveillance capabilities of the British Royal Navy are to experience a setback in 2017 due to budget constraints. Janes has it that the ScanEagle UAS will leave RN service, without being replaced, in November 2017.

Since 2014, ScanEagle flights have operated from the Type 23 frigates HMS Somerset, HMS Northumberland, HMS Kent, HMS Richmond, and HMS St Albans, with HMS Portland now deploying. As well as using the UAS in primary ISR and overwatch roles, the RN has also conducted tactical development to explore the utility of ScanEagle for other tasks such as covert surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, naval gunfire support spotting, and support to Harpoon missile surface engagements.

But don’t worry, the RM is now opening combat roles to females, so there is that.