Vanguard Class Submarine
The Vanguard class are the Royal Navy's nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), each armed with up to 16 Trident II missiles. The class was introduced in 1994 as part of the UK government's Trident nuclear weapons programme.
The class includes four boats: Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance. They were built at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering between 1986 and 1999. All four boats are based at HM Naval Base Clyde (HMS Neptune), 40 km (25 mi) west of Glasgow, Scotland.
Since the decommissioning of the Royal Air Force WE.177 free-fall nuclear bombs in 1998, the four Vanguard submarines are the sole platforms for the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons.
Read more about Vanguard Class Submarine: Background, Design, Operational History, Replacement
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