HMS Vigilant (S30) is the third Vanguard class submarine of the Royal Navy. Vigilant carries the Trident ballistic missile, the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Vigilant was built at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions), was launched in October 1995, and commissioned in November 1996.
In 2002, protestors from Trident Ploughshares breached security at Faslane Naval Base where the Vanguard submarines are based. Two protestors managed to spraypaint Vigilant with the CND symbol and the word "Vile".
Peter Hennessy reporting for the Today programme on BBC radio 4, reported from the Vigilant on 28 December 2007. The Vigilant was one of four submarines that is the last line of defence for the United Kingdom. He also reported that there is a grey safe in the control room that has an inner safe that only the Commanding officer (Commander Pole) and Executive officer can open. In that safe is a letter from the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the letter contains guidance and orders if the United Kingdom is attacked by nuclear weapons.
Vigilant arrived at Devonport on 11 October 2008 for a major refit. Vigilant is expected to return to the fleet in 2012 following her GBP 300 million refit.
She is seen here returning to her home port of Faslane.
