Ministry of Defence confirms future submarine basing plan

HMS Ark Royal in the distance in company with HMS Talent as the submarine conducts a high-line transfer off the Northern Coast of Norway [Picture: LA(Phot) Gregg Macready (RN), Crown copyright]

24 November 2014 Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has confirmed that two Trafalgar Class submarines will move from Devonport to Clyde.

Two Trafalgar Class submarines will move from Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport to Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde in another step towards HMNB Clyde becoming the Royal Navy’s submarine centre of specialisation.

By 2020, HMS Talent and HMS Triumph will have moved to Scotland making HMNB Clyde home to all of the UK’s submarines.

The Royal Navy’s other two T-Boats, HMS Torbay and HMS Trenchant, are to remain at their current home in Devonport until they are decommissioned in 2017 and 2019 respectively.

Trafalgar Class submarine HMS Triumph, glides into HM Naval Base Clyde in the early morning sun following a patrol - Picture LA(Phot) Ben Sutton (RN), UK MoD

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

    This decision balances the Royal Navy’s operational requirements with giving more clarity to our servicemen and women to plan their family lives.

    HMS Torbay and HMS Trenchant crews and their families now have certainty that Devonport will be their home port until the boats decommission. We expect that local communities will welcome HMS Talent and HMS Triumph and their crews and families when they arrive in Scotland later this decade.

    Our commitment to Faslane becoming home to all Royal Navy submarines from 2020 will bring hundreds of jobs and investment to the West of Scotland.

There is no change to the decision to make HMNB Clyde the single integrated submarine operating base and submarine centre of specialisation by 2020.

However, to have HMS Talent and HMS Triumph remain in Devonport until they decommission represents better value for money than to move them so near to the end of their service lives.