Military Watch Magazine

Britain Makes Rare Surge of Heavily Armed Nuclear Submarine Forces at Sea Amid High Tensions with Russia

The British Royal Navy has sent three of its four Vanguard-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines to sea simultaneously, which is a highly unusual development that reportedly has not occurred for at least five years. At least one submarine is believed to be conducting a routine nuclear deterrent patrol carrying Trident intercontinental range ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads, while the other two are thought to be preparing for operations or conducting sea trials. Vanguard class ships are among the most heavily armed in the world, with each deploying up to 16 intercontinental range ballistic missiles, each of which can carry up to eight warheads for a total of up to 128 warheads per ship.