The British used glue to fix the nuclear-powered cruiser HMS Vanguard of the Trident system, which can carry ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads

The Royal Navy has launched an investigation following reports that

The strategic guided missile cruiser HMS Vanguard was repaired using glue. Inadequate repairs were discovered after one of the submarine's bolts fell off during an inspection.

What is known

The UK is armed with four nuclearVanguard-class submarines. The 150-meter submarine HMS Vanguard went for repairs in 2015. As it turned out, due to excessive force during tightening, the bolt heads were torn off. Instead of replacing them with new ones, contractor Babcock's engineers attached the damaged heads with glue.

They were used to provide insulation forpipes of the cooling system of a nuclear reactor. Broken bolts were discovered a day before the control launch of a nuclear reactor at full power. Now the UK military prosecutor is trying to establish when the breakdown took place and who should ultimately be held responsible.

Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdomthere were no harsh comments. The agency noted that a defect was discovered on the HMS Vanguard submarine while the cruiser was in dry dock. The problem was reported immediately and it was fixed. In addition, Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace met with the head of Babcock to get assurances about future work.

Note that Babcock is the second largestUnited Kingdom Department of Defense contractor. The company received several billion pounds to maintain the Astute and Vanguard missile cruisers.

HMS Vanguard is one of four submarines of the classVanguard along with HMS Vigilant, HMS Victorious and HMS Vengeance. They are equipped with Trident intercontinental ballistic missiles, which can carry nuclear warheads. From 2028, they will be replaced by Dreadnought class submarines, which will also become carriers of Trident missiles.