[Trident Ploughshares] Nuclear sub forced to ration food
Posted: 26th October 2024
From The Sun (sorry…)
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/31295918/nuclear-submarine-food-low-sweets/
Nuclear sub forced to ration food with sailors sharing sweets after crew nearly ran out of supplies on 6-month patrol Medics feared a ‘serious loss of life’ from fatigue and concentration lapses Jerome Starkey, Defence Editor
Published: 22:00, 24 Oct 2024 Updated: 9:05, 25 Oct 2024
A NUCLEAR submarine ran so low on food during a six-month patrol its sailors were ordered to share rations.
Crew divvied up sweets and hunted for leftover food.
Sailors were ordered to share rations after food ran low on nuclear submarine’s 6-month patrol The hungry crew began divvying up sweets to boost morale Medics feared a “serious loss of life” from fatigue and concentration lapses.
The Vanguard-class vessel had to patrol for well over six months owing to a shortage of working subs.
Plans to resupply at sea were scrapped for unknown reasons — so chiefs asked crew to hand in their sweets and chocolate, known in the Navy as “nutty”.
Submariners searched for leftover food packets and cans, and an honesty shop in the canteen closed over fears of hoarding.
Medics reportedly handed out caffeine tablets amid fears tiredness could lead to a critical mistake and serious loss of life at sea. Off-duty sailors were also urged to sleep to save energy.
A former sub captain briefed on conditions aboard the vessel, which we are not naming for security reasons, said: “Horrific is the only word.”
A second source said: “It was miserable. If you weren’t on watch your movements were limited to conserve energy and encouraged to sleep to burn less calories.”
They added: “Medical staff raised concerns about a serious loss of life due to fatigue and people either not concentrating or falling asleep on critical duties.”
One of the Navy’s four Vanguard-class subs is always on patrol in case of a nuclear attack.
The Navy boasts they can make their own air and water, so the only limit on their range is “the amount of food on board”.
The Royal Navy website states: “Patrols could, in theory, last for years at a time.”
Originally Royal Navy policy was for the Vanguard-class submarines to spend a maximum of 80 days at sea, for the welfare of the crew.
But the shortage of working subs has led to longer patrols.
HMS Vengeance set a record when she returned to His Majesty’s Naval Base, Clyde in March.
She had been away for six months and 18 days.
HMS Vigilant spent 195 days on patrol before that.
The other subs are HMS Vanguard and HMS Victorious.
All can carry up to 16 Trident missiles, each carrying up to 12 nuclear warheads.
Scientists at Nasa have studied British submarine crews to see how they cope with prolonged confinement to learn lessons for potential missions to Mars.
During patrols the submariners are only entitled to receive one 40-word message a week from home, known as a family-gram.
Bad news, such as deaths or break-ups, is censored by the sub’s captain as it is impossible to get the crew home without jeopardising the patrol.
A source said: “Submarine crews make incredible sacrifices to keep this country safe, but because their work is so secret most people don’t have a clue.”
Their location is kept top secret as they are our last line of defence.
Last night the Royal Navy insisted the crew on the six-month patrol were not starving.
A spokesperson said: “Every submariner receives a nutritionally balanced diet at all times.”
They added: “Robust procedures ensure crew safety at all times on missions.”