Nuclear deterrent submarine’s crew to be put into isolation

THE next patrol of Britain’s nuclear deterrent submarine will be held in quarantine ahead of the deployment, so as to provide a “clean crew”.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic the crew of the next nucleararmed submarine to leave on patrol will initially be held in isolation for two weeks, The Telegraph understands.

The Royal Navy has had a nuclear submarine at sea somewhere around the world every day since 1969. It is the Armed Forces’ highest priority task.

The MOD announced last week it had cancelled all Rest and Recuperation (R and R) for troops deployed on operations in a bid to protect military personnel. The Telegraph understands this policy has been adapted to cover Britain’s four Vanguard Class nuclear armed submarines, based at Faslane naval base near Glasgow.

A typical patrol for each nuclear powered boat is around four months.