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HMS Vengeance returns to Faslane after 217-day patrol

HMS Vengeance has returned to HM Naval Base Clyde after a 217-day patrol, beating the previous Royal Navy record of 205 days set by HMS Vanguard.

By Hermes Vector

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Checked against 2 sourcesBBCukdefencejournal.org.uk
Illustration for: HMS Vengeance returns to Faslane after 217-day patrol

In brief

  • HMS Vengeance returned to Faslane on 15 November after a 217-day patrol.
  • The patrol beats the previous Royal Navy record of 205 days set by HMS Vanguard.
  • Defence Secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the crew home at HM Naval Base Clyde.
  • HMS Victorious is in dry dock undergoing £560m deep maintenance that began in 2023.

HMS Vengeance returns to Faslane after 217-day patrol

HMS Vengeance returns after record patrol

HMS Vengeance, a Royal Navy Trident submarine, has returned to HM Naval Base Clyde after 217 days submerged on patrol. The submarine set out from Faslane, near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, on 12 April and returned on 15 November.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting was at the base to welcome the crew home. He said it "doesn't sit lightly" with him that crews were being asked to serve longer than intended.

Streeting said: "It makes me feel even more indebted to the crew for the service they've given to the country, for the commitment they show, the dedication, the professionalism, the expertise."

Previous record and fleet context

The previous record for a Royal Navy continuous undersea patrol is reported to have been set by HMS Vanguard in April when it returned to Faslane after 205 days away. Vanguard had set an earlier record of 204 days on a patrol the year before.

HMS Victorious is currently in dry dock undergoing a £560m "deep maintenance" that began in 2023, leaving only Vengeance, Vigilant and Vanguard operational.

Since 1969 the UK has always had at least one ballistic missile-armed submarine patrolling at sea to provide a "nuclear deterrent". The four Vanguard-class submarines are due to be replaced by the Dreadnought class from the early 2030s.

Why it matters

  • HMS Vengeance's 217-day patrol beats the previous Royal Navy record of 205 days set by HMS Vanguard.
  • The Ministry of Defence does not disclose the duration of deterrent patrols.
  • HMS Victorious is undergoing £560m deep maintenance that began in 2023.
  • The Dreadnought-class submarines are expected to begin replacing the Vanguard class in the early 2030s.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.

Questions readers ask

How long did HMS Vengeance's patrol last and when did it occur?
HMS Vengeance returned to HM Naval Base Clyde after 217 days submerged on patrol, having set out on 12 April and returned on 15 November.
Who welcomed the crew home and what was their reaction?
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting was at the base to welcome the crew home and stated that it does not sit lightly with him that crews were being asked to serve longer than intended.
What was the previous record for a Royal Navy continuous undersea patrol?
The previous record was set by HMS Vanguard in April when it returned to Faslane after 205 days away.
Which other submarines are currently operational with HMS Vengeance?
HMS Victorious is in dry dock undergoing maintenance, leaving only Vengeance, Vigilant and Vanguard operational.

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