Rusting Submarine and Failed Tests: Is the UK Nuclear Deterrent Failing?

Faslane, Scotland – Leaked images of a Vanguard-class nuclear submarine returning to Faslane in a visibly deteriorated state have ignited renewed debate and anxiety over the readiness of the UK's nuclear deterrent.

The photos, taken by local residents, depict rust and missing panels on the submarine's hull, drawing widespread concern and mockery on social media.

This alarming visual comes amidst a series of unsettling revelations surrounding the UK's nuclear capabilities. A classified report leaked last month indicated a second consecutive failed test of a Trident missile launched from a Vanguard submarine.

Furthermore, unconfirmed reports from 2023 allege a near-disastrous incident where a Vanguard submarine suffered a critical malfunction of its depth gauge, rendering the crew unaware of their rapid descent towards potentially fatal crush depths.

Critics are demanding greater transparency from the British government, calling for a comprehensive assessment of the nuclear infrastructure at Faslane and the true operational readiness of the Vanguard-class submarines.

As the vessels form the cornerstone of the UK's nuclear deterrent, their reliability and combat-readiness are viewed as essential components of national security.

The recent photograph, combined with the history of failed missile tests and rumored accidents, has severely undermined public confidence in the UK's nuclear arsenal.

Citizens are demanding a clear disclosure of the situation and a demonstration that their government is committed to addressing these pressing issues.

Key Questions and Concerns​

• Deterrent Credibility: Can the UK's nuclear deterrent be considered effective and reliable given the recent issues?
• Taxpayer Investment: Are public funds being adequately utilized to maintain the nuclear arsenal, or is there evidence of mismanagement?
• Safety Protocols: Does the near-catastrophic incident with the depth gauge highlight potential flaws in safety procedures or equipment?
• Government Transparency: Is the government being entirely forthcoming about the state of the Vanguard submarines and the overall nuclear deterrent?

The deteriorating image of the submarine, coupled with mounting technical failures, represents a significant crisis for the UK's defense posture.

This situation demands urgent attention and honest communication from those responsible for safeguarding the nation's nuclear capabilities.

 

[Anant]

The state of the submarines is not too much of a surprise. The missing panels are a concern, but not the rust.

It should be noted that the UK has maintained the Continuous At Sea Deterrence (CASD) program since 1969, and for the last 55 years, atleast one British SSBN has always been on deployment at any time.

As for the Trident failure, the Brits have already been investing to modernise and eventually replace the Trident.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

Looks like the submarine is mirroring the state of the British economy and the condition of UK itself in general.!

 

[Indian1]

The state of the submarines is not too much of a surprise. The missing panels are a concern, but not the rust.

It should be noted that the UK has maintained the Continuous At Sea Deterrence (CASD) program since 1969, and for the last 55 years, atleast one British SSBN has always been on deployment at any time.

As for the Trident failure, the Brits have already been investing to modernise and eventually replace the Trident.

Better Brits send those investments to US. Fully built trident missiles with nuclear warheads were supplied to UK by US. MTCR, NPR etc are not applicable for western countries.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

The state of the submarines is not too much of a surprise. The missing panels are a concern, but not the rust.

It should be noted that the UK has maintained the Continuous At Sea Deterrence (CASD) program since 1969, and for the last 55 years, atleast one British SSBN has always been on deployment at any time.

As for the Trident failure, the Brits have already been investing to modernise and eventually replace the Trident.

yes, rusting is very common for military as well as civilian vessels. Regarding the missile failure, they should not have made it public lol. If it was india, we would not have made it public.

 

[kumar]

yes, rusting is very common for military as well as civilian vessels. Regarding the missile failure, they should not have made it public lol. If it was india, we would not have made it public.

Until recently , we used to make missile tests public. But off late, we are not making any missile tests public, whether success or failure for obvious reasons.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Until recently , we used to make missile tests public. But off late, we are not making any missile tests public, whether success or failure for obvious reasons.

no we do make them public, but I doubt how accurate they are, since even after multiple "successful" missile tests, the military still takes long time in inducting them.

 

[Pad UwU]

Vanguard is old same goes to it's Trident nuke missile that really needs upgrade 😹😹😹

 

[Pad UwU]

yes, rusting is very common for military as well as civilian vessels. Regarding the missile failure, they should not have made it public lol. If it was india, we would not have made it public.

Why not making it public???🧐🤔 Is it because Pakistan and China????

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Why not making it public???🧐🤔 Is it because Pakistan and China????

because weapon failures can be humiliating. Look at how humiliating it is for UK that there nuclear deterrent launch failed.

 

[Bharat007]

What to expect from Woke UK? Their Military is no longer fit to fight, Judiciary is no longer fit to discharge meaningful justice, their Police is too woke, and above all their Govt. is the most useless! All UK cares is "gender based identity politics, Muslim and illegal immigrant appeasing politiks under the guise of inclusivity and diversity". Reminder for us, NEVER GO WOKE, and NEVER ACCEPT LGBTQ!

 

[Pad UwU]

because weapon failures can be humiliating. Look at how humiliating it is for UK that there nuclear deterrent launch failed.

I don't see it as humiliation, it's a reality check for them same goes to us and others... To maintain quality and effectiveness of the weapon at all time in case a war broke out on spot😺

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

I don't see it as humiliation, it's a reality check for them same goes to us and others... To maintain quality and effectiveness of the weapon at all time in case a war broke out on spot😺

That can be done by keeping the test failures private and work on them without making it public.

 

[De_SECULARISED]

What to expect from Woke UK? Their Military is no longer fit to fight, Judiciary is no longer fit to discharge meaningful justice, their Police is too woke, and above all their Govt. is the most useless! All UK cares is "gender based identity politics, Muslim and illegal immigrant appeasing politiks under the guise of inclusivity and diversity". Reminder for us, NEVER GO WOKE, and NEVER ACCEPT LGBTQ!

Gone are the days when they were able to show off from the money looted from india & other commonwealth countries.

 

[Anant]

Better Brits send those investments to US. Fully built trident missiles with nuclear warheads were supplied to UK by US. MTCR, NPR etc are not applicable for western countries.

What? The British have been members of the MTCR pretty much since inception. Moreover, they actually developed a nuclear weapon themselves, unlike certain nations like Pakistan or North Korea.

They now use American Trident missiles exclusively, since they decided to disband the aerial nuclear deterrent due to budgetary cuts. However, those missiles and their warheads are owned by the British, even if the missiles themselves (not the warheads, mind you) are sold by the Americans.

Stuff like MTCR is technically applicable (though not legally binding) to all nations, but you then have idiots like the Chinese who keep trying to skirt around them.

 

[Anant]

Gone are the days when they were able to show off from the money looted from india & other commonwealth countries.

You know, you have to wonder just how horribly inefficient they are. As long as they had money flowing in from the colonies, they touted themselves around as a global power. Now that that is no longer the case, they are teetering between one economic downturn and other.

 

[David Cunningham]

France has it's own nuclear submarine deterrent, french design and build. Does not rely on America. Also it has an airborne nuclear deterrent, unlike the UK.