His Majesty King Charles III recognised the dedication of Royal Navy submariners when he visited the home of the UK Submarine Service. The King met with dozens of serving submariners and their families at Coulport, part of HM Naval Base Clyde, taking the opportunity to thank them for their service on behalf of the nation.
Welcomed on-site by First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE, His Majesty received the Royal Salute before being greeted by senior members of the Royal Navy. The event marked the first time that His Majesty has visited the Naval Base as Head of The Armed Forces, although he has been to the military site in 2011 and 2013 as Prince of Wales.
“His Majesty’s visit, his first here as Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, acknowledges the valuable service of our submariners,” said Commodore Paul Dunn OBE, Commodore of the Submarine Service.
“The Royal Navy’s unbroken 55-year record of Continuous At Sea Deterrence is a tremendous source of pride, showcasing the skill, professionalism, and dedication of our defence enterprise. This remarkable national endeavour, entrusted to us since 1969, has seen our submariners and their families make significant sacrifices in the defence of our country.”
As well as meeting with Royal Navy submariners and their families, The King also took time to visit one of the Vanguard-class submarines which deliver the nuclear deterrent. He was piped onboard before being shown the Control Room where he chatted with crew members about their roles and thanked them for their commitment.
His Majesty was also shown some of the living areas onboard, including the bunk space and galley. Before leaving the vessel, he visited the Senior Rates’ Mess where he met a few more of the ship’s company and signed the visitors’ book.
During his visit, The King met with a group of Gold Deterrent Pin holders, giving his personal thanks for their outstanding contribution. Royal Navy Deterrent Patrol pins are awarded to submariners for their contribution to the Continuous At Sea Deterrent. There are three levels of achievement: pewter, silver, and gold. Gold is awarded to those submariners who have spent the greatest amount of time under the waves.
Chief Petty Officer Longhurst was among the submariners who were lucky enough to bring their family members to meet The King: “Meeting The King with my wife and shipmates today was a truly special moment, marking the culmination of my service as a Royal Navy submariner. It has been a challenging but fulfilling 23 years, seven of which have been underwater,” said Chief Longhurst.
“His Majesty’s visit not only highlights the importance of the job we do in keeping the nation safe, but it also emphasises the invaluable support of our loved ones who stand by us through every deployment. Our families are the unsung heroes and today recognises that at the highest level.”
The geographic position of a Vanguard-class submarine on patrol is a secret not shared with the majority of the crew. While at sea, submariners have little contact with the outside world. However, one of the most important links with home is the arrival of the “Family Gram”, a 120-word, one-way message that arrives weekly. Patrolling submariners will also receive a snapshot of local and international news stories, as well as sporting results – all of which are vetted by the Commanding Officer.
Submarine crews operate a shift pattern called a “watch bill”. Most will spend six-hours on watch and then have six-hours to eat, sleep, exercise, and relax. As a result, sleep is limited to approximately four-hour segments.
Despite their hectic work schedule, submariners still find time to relax and entertain themselves, with free time on patrol spent watching movies, taking part in regular quiz nights, horse racing nights, computer game tournaments, board games and even the occasional crazy golf competition.
The Dreadnought-class submarines – which will also be based at Clyde – are set to pick-up the baton from the current Vanguard-class boats in the early 2030s. Millions of pounds are being invested at HM Naval Base Clyde in preparation for their arrival.
Commodore Sharon Malkin ADC, Naval Base Commander Clyde, said: “HM Naval Base Clyde has supported the UK’s Deterrent submarines since 1968. The One Clyde team on base is a collaboration of serving naval personnel, veterans, civil servants, and industry partners – many of whom are part of the local community. His Majesty’s visit to the Clyde today is a tremendous honour for all of us involved.”
This transformation and investment at HMNB Clyde, along with the ongoing commitment of Royal Navy Submariners and their families, civilian workers, and industry partners, ensures that the UK’s longest ever sustained military operation will continue to keep our country and NATO allies safe for generations to come.