HM Treasury this week approved the Initial Gate Business Case for
the new submarine school to be built at Scotland’s largest
military establishment this week. Final design approval is
expected soon, which will allow work to begin later this year.
Defence Secretary Sir said:
We are now making a long-term investment of hundreds of
millions of pounds to improve and upgrade the waterfront at
Clyde to make sure it is ready to support the United Kingdom’s
whole submarine fleet.
As well as a boost to the Scottish economy, this will also
bring welcome stability for our personnel, who work hard to
help keep Britain safe and secure.
The new schools will provide academic and technical training for
all Royal Naval personnel entering the submarine service from
2022. It is an important step for both the Royal Navy and
Scotland as it means all submariners’ careers, whether afloat or
ashore, will be principally conducted from Faslane as part of a
£1.3 billion investment in making the Clyde Britain’s submarine
hub.
All 11 Royal Navy submarines will be based at HMNB Clyde from
2020, seeing the number of people employed at the base will rise
from 6,800 people to 8,200. The school will support the Astute
hunter killer submarines, as well as the delivery of training for
the new Dreadnought nuclear deterrent boats, which provide the
United Kingdom with its continuous nuclear deterrent.
Head of the Submarine Service, Rear Admiral John Weale said:
Our new single integrated operating base will make significant
improvements to the work-life balance of our 5,000 submariners.
By putting our boats and training in one place, our submariners
can put down roots in Scotland knowing that they are no longer
required to commute from one end of the country to another.
The re-location of submarine training from HMS Sultan and HMS
Raleigh is consistent with the Better Defence Estate Strategy,
published in November, which set out the department’s plans sets
out plans to achieve a more efficient, modern and capability
focused defence estate and bring greater harmony to Service
families.
Key milestones in the development of a Submarine Centre of
specialisation at HM Naval Base Clyde include:
-
A drumbeat of arrivals of the last four Astute class
submarines on the Clyde due to be commissioned into the Royal
Navy between 2018 and 2024 (eventually replacing the
Trafalgar class).
-
The move of the last two Trafalgar class submarines, HM
Submarines Talent and Triumph, to the Clyde in 2019 and 2020
from Devonport (Plymouth). On current plans, the end of
service date for Talent is 2021 and for Triumph is 2022.
-
The move of the Submarine Escape Rescue Abandonment and
Survivability Training capability from Hampshire to the Clyde
by 2019.
-
A new Nuclear Support Hub, providing modern standard effluent
disposal by 2020 which will remain compliant with Scottish
and UK environmental standards.
-
The Faslane Nuclear Infrastructure Continuous Availability
Programme to replace or refurbish Nuclear Facilities by 2024.
-
The four Dreadnought nuclear deterrent submarines will start
to arrive at Faslane from the early 2030s (replacing the
Vanguard-class boats).
