Nine crew are removed from nuclear sub for using cocaine

NINE British servicemen have been removed from HMS Vigilant, the nuclear submarine, after testing positive for cocaine while on duty.

It is the latest scandal to hit the Vanguard class submarine, following revelations earlier this month of several improper sexual relationships on board among senior officers.

The nine crew members of the submarine, which is one of four Navy submarines armed with up to eight Trident nuclear missiles, were sent home after failing the drugs tests.

“We do not tolerate drugs misuse by service personnel. Those found to have fallen short of our high standards face being discharged from service,” a Royal Navy spokesman said.

A source confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that nine crew-members had tested positive for the Class A drug and had already been discharged. One of the servicemen reportedly also had sex with a prostitute in a swimming pool.

The drugs scandal comes after the submarine’s commander and his second-in-command were both taken off HMS Vigilant earlier this month while Navy chiefs investigate claims of improper relationships with female colleagues on board.

Lt-cdr Michael Seal reportedly had an extra-marital affair with a female engineer, Lt Hannah Litchfield. Cdr Stuart Armstrong, the boat’s commander, was revealed to have been relieved of his duties after allegations that his relationship with a female subordinate, Sub-lt Rebecca Edwards, was “closer than it should have been”.

Naval sources said the removal of the top two officers from a vessel was “highly unusual”.

Another serviceman is reportedly facing a court martial after taking a flight back to the UK to visit his girlfriend without permission.

The scandals that have struck the vessel have led to two other members of staff resigning. Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, is said to be “furious” about the scandals, which have led to calls for mandatory drugs testing across the entire fleet.

The MOD in 2011 lifted a ban on women serving on Royal Navy submarines, with the first joining their vessels in 2013. The decision to lift the ban followed an 18-month review by the Royal Navy which looked at the legal, operational, health, social, technical and financial issues.