The United Kingdom has simultaneously deployed three of its four nuclear deterrent submarines at sea for the first time in five years, The Times reported on Wednesday. At least one of the vessels – known as Vanguard-class submarines – was said to be armed with ballistic missiles which carry nuclear warheads. The report named the three submarines at sea as HMS Vanguard, HMS Vigilant and HMS Vengeance, with the fourth, HMS Victorious, currently undergoing maintenance.
A navy source quoted by The Times described the deployment as “unusual”, without elaborating. The UK continuously deploys at least one of the four submarines as a security guarantee. The deployment has raised questions over whether the UK has changed its defence posture after Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned last week that Britain should be prepared for war.
The last time three submarines were at sea was more than five years ago, according to The Times. Navy Lookout, the UK’s leading independent publication on the Royal Navy, says one submarine carrying ballistic missiles has been at sea without interruption since 1969. It said the second vessel was believed to be preparing to relieve a patrol boat, while the third was likely conducting sea trials or work-up activity.
Last year HMS Vanguard patrolled the seas for 200 days, just a week shy of the longest known submarine deployment of 207 days, carried out by HMS Victorious in 2021. According to Sky News, a spokesperson for the defence ministry said the country’s nuclear deterrent is the “cornerstone of our national security, protecting the UK and our NATO allies every moment of every day”. This means that all NATO allies already benefit from the protection of our nuclear deterrent,” the spokesperson added.
Last week, British and French fighter jets flew together in their first joint exercise involving France’s airborne nuclear capability. The French armed forces ministry said British RAF Typhoon fighters escorted the French jets, simulating a nuclear strike. France’s Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said that having “independent nuclear forces does not preclude coordination”.
The UK’s Streeting said that in an “increasingly dangerous world, our adversaries should be in no doubt”. On Saturday, Streeting wrote in the Telegraph newspaper that Britain must be ready for war within 1,000 days. What has changed is their capacity.
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