HMS Vanguard (S28)

HMS Vanguard's role

Commissioned in August 1993, HMS Vanguard is the first boat of the Vanguard-class: a four-strong class of nuclear-powered submarines whose role is to carry the Trident ballistic missile system.

At 150 metres, this colossal submarine is almost as long as St Paul’s Cathedral – yet she carries out her duties silent and undetected, patrolling the world’s oceans at depths in excess of 250 metres. And with the ability to generate her own supply of water and oxygen, Vanguard’s range is limited only by the amount of food onboard.

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

Unit history

1586

Spanish Armada

Nine ships have been named Vanguard before the current vessel – the first submarine. The first was a 31-gun galleon launched at Woolwich in 1586 before taking part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

1615

Rebuilds

The first Vanguard was rebuilt at Chatham in 1615, making her half as big again and mounting 40 guns, followed by a further rebuild 16 years later, allowing her to carry 56 guns. She was sunk in June 1667.

1678

Vanguard number Two

The second Vanguard was a second rate 90-gun ship of the line launched at Portsmouth in 1678. The three-decker tipped over in the Medway in November 1703, but was rebuilt in Chatham six years later.

1728

Renaming

In the summer of 1728, following another rebuild, she was renamed Duke and served on until being broken up in August 1769.

1748

The Third and Fourth Vanguards

Another Vanguard – a 3rd Rate of 70 guns - is launched at Cowes in April 1748 and sold in April 1774, while the fourth was a four-gun Spanish tiddler captured in 1780, sold three years later.

1787

Battle of the Nile

The fifth Vanguard, a Deptford ship, was launched in 1787 as, a third rate 74-gunner. She won a special place in the annals of the Royal Navy as Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of the Nile.

1821

Fifth Vanguard broken up

The fifth vanguard was broken up in 1821 after nine years as a prison ship and powder hulk.

1835

An experimental design

Her successor was a similar-sized ship bearing four guns more. Launched at Pembroke Dock in 1835, she was an experimental design intended to demonstrate greater speed and stability. She was renamed Ajax in 1867 and broken up eight years later.

1870

The Seventh Vanguard

The seventh Vanguard was an ironclad battleship launched at the Laird yard on the Mersey in 1870. She spent much of her life as guardship at Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) in Ireland.

1875

Sunk at County Wicklow

Vanguard was rammed and sunk by her sister HMS Iron Duke County Wicklow in September 1875 with no loss of life (except, reportedly, the Captain’s pet dog).

1909

Vanguard number Eight

Vanguard number eight was a St Vincent-class launched by Vickers at Barrow in 1909. She came through Jutland unscathed in 1916.

1917

Sank at Scapa Flow

In July 1917, Vanguard sank almost instantly following an accidental explosion while at anchor in Scapa Flow; more than 800 men died in one of the worst single accidents in the UK’s history.

1941

The last battleship

The ninth Vanguard was the last battleship to be built by the Navy. Although laid down in 1941, she was not commissioned until a year the end of the war, and remained in service until 1954.

1956

Flagship

In 1956 Vanguard became flagship of the Royal Navy Reserve but within three years she was slated for scrapping.

1960

Towed from Portsmouth

She was towed from Portsmouth Harbour in August 1960 - though she didn't go without a struggle, wedging herself against the Still and West pub until tugs could free her.