Royal Navy’s Submarine Fleet 2022

January 28, 2022

Royal Navy’s Submarine Fleet is considered as the one of largest and modern fleet in the world. It consists up of eleven (11) submarines. British Navy is among very few naves that are operating “Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN)”.

Royal Navy is operating three different classes of submarines.

Vanguard Class
Astute Class
Trafalgar Class

Interestingly, entire Royal Navy’s Submarine Fleet comprises nuclear powered submarines.

Vanguard Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile Submarines:

Vanguard-class submarines are armed with 16 UGM-133A Trident II D-5 or D-5LE nuclear-tipped Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles. Moreover, these submarines are also armed with Spearfish Heavy Weight Torpedoes (HWT). Spearfish torpedoes have a capability to destroy their target as far as 30 miles. While, Trident missile can destroyed target at a range of 4000 miles.

Vanguard-Class at a Glance:

Total Length: 150 metres
Top Speed: 25+ knots
Total displacement: 15,900 tonnes

Submarines in Class:

HMS Vanguard S28
HMS Victorious S29
HMS Vigilant S30
HMS vengeance S31

Trafalgar Nuclear Powered Submarine

Another class of submarines in Royal Navy is Trafalgar Class. These boats are armed Tomahawk missiles and spearfish torpedoes. Boats from this class are equipped with five (5) 533mm torpedo tubes. Those torpedo tubes can fire American origin UGM-109E Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (LACM).

Trafalgar Class at a Glance:

Total displacement: 5298 tonnes
Length: 85.4 metres
Crew members: 130
Speed: 30+ knots

Submarines in Class:

HMS Trenchant S91
HMS Talent S92
HMS Triumph S93

Astute Nuclear Powered Submarine

Royal Navy is also 4 submarines from Astute Class. These boats are armed Tomahawk missiles and spearfish torpedoes. Boats from this class are equipped with Six (6) 533mm torpedo tubes. Those torpedo tubes can fire Spearfish torpedo tubes to destroy enemy targets.

Boats in Astute Class: