Faslane submarine crew home after gruelling mission lasting half a year
Deputy PM pays tribute to crew carrying out longest nuclear mission
Submariners based at Faslane are beginning the process of adjusting to life back on land after a gruelling, record-breaking deployment on one of the UK’s Trident missile-carrying boats, which has returned after more than six months at sea.
One of the four Vanguard-class submarines returned to the Clyde on Monday, its hull showing the evidence of an unprecedented patrol which heat radio News understands lasted 197 days.
The previous longest missions have been reported as being 157 days, although the MoD never confirms details of the top secret missions.
The crew were welcomed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, and the head of the Royal Navy, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key.
Life on a submarine
In 2016 Clyde News was given access the HMS Vigilant, understood to be the boat involved in the record-breaking patrol.
Operation Relentless
Since 1969 the UK has been committed to always keeping a submarine at sea armed with nuclear ballistic missiles, ready to respond to any hostile strike by an enemy, called Operation Relentless.
Mr Dowden said: "I am delighted to be here to welcome home our sailors as they return from patrol.
"The Continuous At Sea Deterrent is enormously important to the United Kingdom and I am humbled by their service.
"I do not underestimate the demands on our people and their families in their commitment to delivering this capability."
Tributes to crew
Sir Ben said: "It's a great privilege for me to welcome home the returning ship's company.
"They have done an exceptional job and I never fail to be impressed by their dedication and professionalism.
"I also pay immense tribute to their families and thank them for their support.
Ageing subs
The eldest of the four Vanguard boats has been in service for 30 years.
A new class of ballistic submarine, the Dreadnought class, is under construction (at a cost of £40 billion pounds when it was voted on by MPs in 2016) but they’re not expected in service until the 2030s.