HMS Vigilant (S30)

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Career (UK)

Launched:	October 1995
Commissioned:	November 1996
Homeport:	HMNB Clyde
Fate:	active in service
General characteristics
Displacement:	Dived: 15,680 tons
Length:	149.9 m
Beam:	12.8 m
Draught:	12 m
Propulsion:	1 × Rolls-Royce PWR2 nuclear reactor 2 × GEC turbines 1 × shaft pump jet 27,500 hp (20.5 MW) 2 × auxiliary retractable propulsion motors 2 × W H Allen turbo generators 6 MW 2 × Paxman diesel alternators 2 × 2,700 hp (20.5 MW)
Speed:	Dived: 25 knots (46 km/h)
Range:	Essentially unlimited
Complement:	14 officers 121 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:	BAE Systems SMCS Thales Underwater Systems Type 2054 composite sonar suite comprising: Type 2046 towed array sonar Type 2043 hull-mounted active and passive search sonar Type 2082 passive intercept and ranging sonar 1 × Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I band navigation radar 1 × Pilkington Optronics CK51 search periscope 1 × Pilkington Optronics CH91 attack periscope
Electronic warfare and decoys:	Thales UPM intercept ESM 2 × Mk10 launchers for launching Type 2066 and Type 2071 decoys
Armament:	4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 16 × ballistic missile tubes Spearfish torpedoes 16 × Lockheed Trident D5 SLBMs carrying up to 128 warheads

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Vigilant.

HMS Vigilant (S30) is the third Vanguard class submarine of the Royal Navy. Vigilant carries the Trident ballistic missile, the UK's nuclear deterrent.

Vigilant was built at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions), was launched in October 1995, and commissioned in November 1996.

In 2002, protestors from Trident Ploughshares breached security at Faslane Naval Base where the Vanguard submarines are based. Two protestors managed to spraypaint Vigilant with the CND symbol and the word "Vile".

Peter Hennessy reporting for the Today programme on BBC radio 4, reported from the Vigilant on 28th December 2007. The Vigilant was one of four submarines that is the last line of defence for the United Kingdom. He also reported that there is a grey safe in the control room that has an inner safe that only the Commanding officer (Commander Pole) and Executive officer can open. In that safe is a letter from the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the letter contains guidance and orders if the United Kingdom is attacked by nuclear weapons.

General characteristics

Displacement: 16,000 tons submerged
Propulsion: Rolls-Royce PWR2 reactor, two GEC turbines, single shaft, pump jet propulsor
Electrical Power: two Paxman diesel generators, two WH Allen turbogenerators
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h) submerged
Complement: 14 officers, 121 men
Strategic Armament: 16 Lockheed Trident II D5 ballistic missiles
Defensive Armament: four 533 mm (21-inch) torpedo tubes, Spearfish torpedoes