Vanguard-class

General info

The Vanguard-class is a Rank IV British submarine with a battle rating of 5.0. It was introduced in Update 1.77 as part of Silent Thunder test run from March 31st to April 3rd. The Vanguard-class submarine in Silent Thunder is based on the «Vigilant» (S30), commissioned in 1996

Pros and cons

Pros:

Cons:

Specifications

Armaments

• 4 x 533 mm Spearfish torpedo
• 16 x Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile

Characteristics

• Max speed: 76 km/h
• Max depth: 510 m
• Displacement: 10000 tons
• Torpedo range: 5 kilometers

History of creation and combat usage

By the mid-1970s, it was clear that both the British submarine ballistic missiles and also the Resolution class submarines equipped with these weapons, were quickly becoming technically obsolete and would soon no longer be worthy competitors to the latest Soviet strategic nuclear weapons. The British military took a liking to the American Trident missiles, which proved to be impossible to equip on the Resolution-class vessels due to technical limitations. In 1980, the British government made a decision to design a brand new strategic cruise submarine. The Vanguard-class nuclear submarines were engineered to be equipped with the American Trident missiles. Their design was based on the previous-generation missile carriers from the Resolution series. Besides the new armament, the Vanguards were also fitted with the latest sonar systems and stealth features, as well as enhanced powertrains. The British were planning on commissioning 6 or 7 Vanguard-class nuclear submarines, but the Cold War came to an end soon after, and so expanding the nuclear arsenal was no longer necessary for the UK. Currently, there are four Vanguard-class cruise missile submarines in service with the Royal Navy. They are the sole platform for the United Kingdom’s nuclear weapons.

Additional information (links)

[Development] Vanguard-Class Nuclear Submarines: On Guard for the Queen

References

Defunct sidebar

Name	Vanguard-class
Nation	Britain
Type	Submarine
Rank	IV
Battle Rating	5.0
Characteristics
Weight	9,500 t (empty) + 500 t (fuel) = 10,000 t
Crew	135 men
Min. Crew	60 men
Statistics
Max. Speed	80 km/h (forward) 4 km/h (reverse)
Max. Depth	510 m
Main Weapon
4 x 533 mm 21 in Spearfish	Torpedo tubes
Ammo stowage	4 x Torpedoes
Maximum range	5,000 m
Secondary Weapon
16 x 2.11 m UGM-133 «Trident II»	Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile launcher
Ammo stowage	16 x Missiles
Economy
Max. repair cost	5,040 SL
Free repair time	1d