HMS Vigilant: Nine sailors fired after failing drugs tests

Posted: 28th October 2017

Another glimpse of the realities behind the Trident weapons system.

HMS Vigilant
Image copyrightPAImage caption – HMS Vigilant is one of Britain’s four Vanguard-class submarines

Nine sailors from a nuclear missile submarine have been dismissed from the Royal Navy after failing drug tests, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The servicemen had been serving aboard HMS Vigilant, which carries the Trident nuclear deterrent.

The Daily Mail reported that the drug they had taken was cocaine.

The Royal Navy said it did not tolerate drugs misuse, adding: “Those found to have fallen short of our high standards face being discharged from service.”

Earlier this month, the submarine’s captain was relieved of his command after an alleged “inappropriate relationship” with a member of his crew.

The Royal Navy said at the time that an investigation was ongoing and operations were not impacted.

HMS Vigilant is one of Britain’s four Vanguard-class submarines which carry up to eight Trident missiles armed with nuclear warheads. 

The submarine is based at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde at Faslane in Argyll and Bute.

All Royal Navy vessels have a “no touching rule” that prohibits intimate relationships on board.

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