Submariners awarded in special service at Faslane

A special parade involving hundreds of service personnel has been overseen by the Princess Royal as HM Naval Base Clyde marked 50 years of housing the UK's nuclear deterrent.

The Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD), also known as Trident, has been operated by the Royal Navy Submarine Service at Faslane in Argyll since 1969.

Around 400 serving men and women from 17 platoons took part in the parade on Friday, with an estimated 800 of their friends and family watching on.

It is thought to be the biggest single gathering of Royal Navy submariners since the Second World War.

In a letter printed in a special programme for the day, the Princess Royal paid tribute to the submarine crews, industrial partners and civil servants.

She wrote: “The achievement that this milestone marks is truly incredible and yet, delivered as it is by the 'silent service' the scale of this endeavour is too often overlooked by the very population that you have defended every day for the last 50 years.''

The sentiment was echoed by Lord Boyce, admiral of the fleet, who also recalled his first experience of the area.

He told PA: “When I first came to Faslane there was nothing here at all, there was just the depot ships sitting alongside a jetty so all the concrete you see here now, the buildings were not here.

“It's a transformation of this particular area over a long time.

“I think the submariners have always been professional in what they do but now they're super professional and I think we could see that today.

“Of course lots of young people will be seen on parade today and I'm very proud to wear a submariner badge myself.''

During the parade the brass band played songs with Scottish links, from the traditional Highland Cathedral to Sir Rod Stewart's aptly-named Sailing.

Some included in the ceremony included the crews of HMS victorious, HMS astute, HMS Neptune and veterans - as well as members of the US Submarine Service with one of their subs docked in the base.

The Princess Royal also handed out a number of special pins recognising terms of service to several submariners and staff.