The remaining subs HMS Vengeance and Vigilant have been forced to spend ever longer at sea to maintain the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, the cornerstone of Britain’s defence.
They are armed with Trident 2 doomsday missiles to blast Britain’s enemies into oblivion in the event of a nuclear strike.
When the Navy launched Operation Relentless in 1969 patrols were less than three months long.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “Our continuous at-sea deterrent protects us and our Nato allies every moment of every day.
“We are immensely grateful to the submariners on board, and their loved ones, for their commitment and dedication.
“While we do not comment on patrol lengths, we take safety very seriously and all submarines go through rigorous safety checks before any patrol.”
VICTA'S STATS
Speeds over 34mph
A range of 250 nautical miles
The 2-minute transition between surface and sub-surface
Deployable from an array of platforms
Digital capabilities allow it to exploit data across countless systems
39 ft long vessel
Can race along the surface at up to 40 knots
Carries two crew and up to six heavily armed frogmen
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