UK: HMS Vengeance Prepares for Revamp

One of the Britain’s most potent weapons is bowing out of service for the next three-and-a-half years – as her sister prepares to resume duties after a similar amount of time away from the front line. Nuclear deterrent submarine HMS Vengeance held a ‘de-dedication’ service on the eve of a £300m revamp in Devonport, where HMS Vigilant is about to emerge from the same complex revamp.

After 11 years of providing the nation’s round-the-clock strategic deterrent, nuclear submarine HMS Vengeance is preparing for a three-and-a-half year revamp, which HMS Vigilant is on the cusp of emerging from.

To mark the end of the first chapter of the life of the Faslane-based boat, a ‘de-dedication’ ceremony was held to thank all those who serve in Vengeance – and their families who support them.

Around 150 family and friends met at the Clyde Off-Site Centre in Rhu for the ceremony, with the boat’s sponsor, Lady Sandra Robertson also attending. Witnessing the ceremony was Commodore of the Faslane Flotilla, Commodore Garrett and many former commanding officers of the vessel, while the Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland provided suitable musical accompaniment.

After the ceremony, the crew, VIPs and guests travelled the short distance to HM Naval Base Clyde’s Supermess where the event was marked by a cake cutting ceremony.

The youngest sailor on board HMS Vengeance, 19-year-old ET Shane McPherson, was given the honour along with the wife of the current Commanding Officer, Mrs Diane Blythe.

Events drew to a close with a ship’s company dinner and dance at Scotland’s national football stadium, Hampden Park. Lady Robertson and her husband, former Secretary of State for Defence Lord George Robertson, were in attendance along with around 180 fellow guests.

Vengeance will be the last of the V-boats to undergo the complex and demanding Long Overhaul Period (Refuel) at the specially-built complex in Devonport Naval Base.

There her reactor will be refuelled to power her to the end of her active life in the late 2020s. In addition, new equipment will be fitted, existing kit overhauled, and systems and living spaces upgraded.

And as the days of Vengeance draw to a close, the Vigilant era is about to resume; the penultimate submarine in the class emerges from her revamp in the same Devonport facility imminently.

It has taken more than £300m, a dedicated team of some 2,000 experts from the Royal Navy, MoD and Babcock, and 2.3 million man hours to prepare Vigilant for the second half of her active life.

In all, 26,000 items were removed from the 16,000-tonne leviathan and overhauled, 400 systems aboard thoroughly tested and 32,000 litres of paint (enough to fill the fuel tanks of more than 550 Ford Focus cars) applied to Vigilant’s 491ft hull.

The boat arrived in Devonport in the autumn of 2008, refuelling was completed in November 2010 and waters lapped around her hull once more in June 2011, since when she’s undergone thorough testing ahead of sea trials this spring month and her return to Faslane.

Phil Smith, project manager at Babcock, said the revamp of Vigilant had been “a significant achievement by all – and one to be proud of. The team is now working hard to ensure that Vigilant is ready to leave Devonport, capable of fulfilling her role well into the 21st Century.”

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Naval Today Staff , March 02, 2012; Image: navy