British nuclear missile ‘misfires and crashes into ocean’

A submarine carrying nuclear weapons has been on patrol always since 1969 as a part of the UK’s steady at sea deterrent.

The Royal Navy has 4 Vanguard class vessels which fulfil this position on rotation. They carry round 140 crew, in addition to Trident ballistic missiles.

The ageing vessels, which have been in service for 30 years, are set to get replaced within the 2030s by the Dreadnought class, that are at the moment beneath building.

In November, a Vanguard class submarine was reported to have had a close to miss after a gauge malfunctioned and left it sinking in direction of an unsafe depth.

An MOD Spokesperson stated: “HMS Vanguard and her crew have been confirmed totally able to working the UK’s Steady At-Sea Deterrent, passing all checks throughout a current demonstration and shakedown operation (DASO) – a routine take a look at to substantiate that the submarine can return to service following deep upkeep work.

“The take a look at has reaffirmed the effectiveness of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, through which now we have absolute confidence.

“In the course of the take a look at an anomaly occurred. As a matter of nationwide safety, we can not present additional info on this, nevertheless we’re assured that the anomaly was occasion particular, and subsequently there aren’t any implications for the reliability of the broader Trident missile programs and stockpile. The UK’s nuclear deterrent stays secure, safe and efficient.”