HMS Triumph returns to Devonport after successfully completing its overseas deployment

The Trafalgar class submarine of the Royal Navy (RN), HMS Triumph today returned to its homeport after completing a nine month long overseas deployment.

The vessel had started its deployment on November 2011. As a part of the mission, the HMS Triumph travelled to various parts of the world, including the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. A considerable part of time during the deployment was spent on conducting anti-piracy and anti-narcotics operations off the coast of Somalia.

HMS Triumph is one of the several nuclear submarines used by the RN. The availability of nuclear power means that the vessel does not need to surface, in order to refuel itself. In 1993, the HMS Triumph undertook a solo non-stop journey to Australia, during which it covered a total of 41,000 miles without support. The 1993 journey is yet to be bettered by any of the RN vessels.

Before the 2011-12 deployment, the vessel undertook a short deployment to the Libyan coast, where it provided support for the NATO airstrikes on Libya. More than 15 cruise missiles were fired by the submarine, during its operations in Libya. The vessel returned to its homeport, HMNB Devonport on June 2011. The 2011-12 deployment started about four months after the Libyan / Mediterranean mission.

According to the British officials, a total of 130 crewmembers took part in the recent mission aboard the vessel. The Commanding Officer of the HMS Triumph, Cdr Rob Dunn said that he is proud of the achievements of the vessel and its staff. He claimed that despite the overwhelming odds placed against them, the crew succeeded in completing the tasks as per schedule.

HMS Triumph is one of the five Trafalgar-class nuclear submarines currently in the active service of RN. Inducted in to the Royal Navy on October 1991, the 5,300 tonne vessel is armed with Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and Spearfish wire-guided heavyweight torpedoes.