POOL PHOTOGRAPH - JAMES GLOSSOP, THE TIMES EMBARGOED UNTIL 0001 FRI 3rd MAY General view of HMS Vigilant, part of the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent. A media tour of the submarine was arranged to mark 50 years of the continuous at sea nuclear deterrent (CASD). HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Scotland. 29-04-19
HMS Vigilant, part of the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent, at the Faslane naval base © James Glossop/The Times

For 50 years Britain has maintained a continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, carried silently beneath the waves by submarines which, in the event of a nuclear strike against the UK, can retaliate with a warhead capable of wiping out a big city.

But for all its longevity the deterrent remains contentious and expensive. The Scottish government opposes the stationing of the nuclear missile submarines at the Faslane naval base north of Glasgow, while the Ministry of Defence’s already stretched budget is facing a huge shortfall, driven mainly by the £31bn cost of renewing the deterrent.

This week, in his final act as defence secretary before being fired over alleged leaking of secrets from the National Security Council, Gavin Williamson stood inside one of the Vanguard class submarines to again bang the drum for this important component of Britain’s defence capabilities.

The former defence secretary, who has been replaced by  Penny Mordaunt , international development secretary, was in his element as he toured Faslane on Monday. He praised the vast effort behind the continuous strategic patrolling, known as “Operation Relentless”, and waved aside worries about Faslane’s future. The base was “absolutely integral to the security of Scotland and the whole of the United Kingdom”, as well as to the Scottish economy, he said. 

POOL PHOTOGRAPH - JAMES GLOSSOP, THE TIMES EMBARGOED UNTIL 0001 FRI 3rd MAY Former Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson during a visit earlier this week to HMS Vigilant, which carries the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent. A media tour of the submarine was arranged to mark 50 years of the continuous at sea nuclear deterrent (CASD). HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Scotland. 29-04-19
Gavin Williamson visits HMS Vigilant this week, shortly before his dismissal as UK defence secretary © James Glossop/The Times

His visit marked the 50th anniversary of the “continuous at-sea deterrent”, which comes as concern grows around plans to replace the four Vanguard submarines with the new Dreadnought class by the early 2030s at a cost of more than £31bn.  

For up to three months at a time the 165-strong crews are confined in a cramped and windowless metal tube as it cruises at 2-3 knots. The submariners cannot contact the outside world and can only receive one 120-word message from family once a week, or two 60-word messages if their loved ones prefer. Commanders keep any serious bad news from crew until the day before their return to port to avoid undermining morale. 

“I don’t think there is any other job on the planet that requires people to cut off so completely for such long periods,” said Captain Neil Lamont, flotilla captain at Faslane.

Officers said the submarine service was still able to attract volunteers, thanks to close onboard camaraderie, relatively generous pay and the professional challenge of self-reliance at sea. 

POOL PHOTOGRAPH - JAMES GLOSSOP, THE TIMES EMBARGOED UNTIL 0001 FRI 3rd MAY Leading Engineering Technician Chris Randall onboard HMS Vigilant, which carries the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent. A media tour of the submarine was arranged to mark 50 years of the continuous at sea nuclear deterrent (CASD). HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Scotland. 29-04-19
Leading engineering technician Chris Randall onboard HMS Vigilant

“You need to manage the expectations of your family, and providing you do that correctly you cope fine,” said Lt Commander Chris Oakley, a second-generation submariner who missed his first child’s birth while on strategic patrol. 

The defence ministry is expanding Faslane to become the home base for the UK’s Trafalgar and new Astute-class attack submarines as well as the ballistic missile Vanguards and future Dreadnoughts. The number of civilian and service staff will increase from the current 6,800 to about 8,500. 

But basing the UK’s nuclear forces in Scotland remains a risk. The devolved government is led by a fiercely anti-nuclear Scottish National party that has vowed to rid the country of weapons of mass destruction in the event of independence. 

A YouGov poll last week found 49 per cent of Scottish voters back separating from the rest of the UK, while a Panelbase survey put support at 47 per cent — but said 52 per cent would back leaving the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit.  

At its spring conference last weekend, the SNP committed to set out a road-map for the “speedy but responsible withdrawal of the UK’s nuclear arsenal” after Scottish independence. 

The anniversary of continuous at-sea deterrence has sparked other protests. Nearly 200 Anglican clerics have objected to plans for a service marking the occasion at Westminster Abbey on Friday.

There has also been increased scrutiny of the military’s nuclear safety record and questions about discipline following reports of drug-taking and inappropriate relationships among members of HMS Vigilant’s crew last year.

POOL PHOTOGRAPH - JAMES GLOSSOP, THE TIMES Commodore Bob Anstey, on board HMS Vigilant, which carries the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent. A media tour of the submarine was arranged to mark 50 years of the continuous at sea nuclear deterrent (CASD). HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Scotland. 29-04-19
Commodore Bob Anstey expressed disappointment over incidents of drug taking and inappropriate relationships on the vessel © James Glossop/The Times

Commodore Bob Anstey said the incidents had been “really, really disappointing” but did not reflect any wider failings in the submarine service. “These people transgressed, they were dealt with,” he said.

Submarine officers said they were convinced that nuclear deterrence had been vital to preventing significant international conflict since the second world war and insisted they would be ready to launch their missiles if ordered — although the logic of deterrence means that actually using nuclear weapons marks a failure of the strategy.

For the submariners themselves, the responsibility of launching a weapon that could kill millions is something that “everyone does think about”, said Captain Lamont. “But actually if you think about it too much it becomes almost too difficult.”

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