If This Is The Vanguard

Tom Cotterill writes:

More than 170 Royal Navy sailors serving in the elite nuclear submarine force have been caught using drugs over the past seven years. The submariners tested positive for a variety of banned or illegal substances including cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy and steroids. Other banned narcotics found during random, unannounced tests included benzodiazepine, a drug for treating anxiety and insomnia. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), 175 submariners tested positive for drugs over seven years, from 2018 to 2024. In 52 of the cases, the submariners were serving on a submarine at the time they were caught taking narcotics, with 12 of the cases occurring in 2024.

Almost all of those caught have been fired, with the MoD saying it had a zero tolerance policy towards drug abuse. Sources added that a small number of personnel might have been spared punishment for taking substances that they were unaware were banned, or if they had mitigating circumstances. The MoD said no drugs had been found in any search of a submarine in the past seven years. However, the positive tests are sure to raise security concerns. It is believed some of those who failed drugs tests were working on Britain’s fleet of four Vanguard-class submarines, each worth around £6bn. The boats carry the UK’s ultimate weapons, the Trident 2 nuclear missiles, with one always at sea at any one time.

Philip Ingram, a former colonel in British military intelligence, said: “There is no place for drugs in our Armed Forces, and especially in sensitive areas such as the submarine service where there is an increased security risk of drug-takers being blackmailed for classified and sensitive insights. The numbers unfortunately reflect the prevalence of drugs in society and that service personnel, often under huge pressure, succumb to temptation like their civilian counterparts. However, there should never be an excuse, and zero tolerance is the only right way forward.”

The submarine service is facing increased pressure, with sailors serving on the Vanguard vessels facing longer stints at sea. Last year, one boat returned to HMNB Clyde, in Scotland, after a record-breaking 204 days underwater. At the same time, efforts to deploy the Navy’s six Astute-class hunter-killer submarines have become increasingly challenging, with much of the fleet stuck in port and unable to go to sea. Former Navy commanders fear some sailors are turning to drugs to cope with the demands they are facing. Cdr Tom Sharpe, a retired frigate captain, said the Navy was tackling drug-taking, adding: “Taking drugs on a submarine is unacceptable, and they will be sent to jail. If you do something that imperils your ship deliberately, you’re in deep water.”

Cdr Ryan Ramsey, a former submarine captain, said the potential sacking of sailors caught taking drugs could have a dramatic “knock-on effect” on the service. “I’m not shocked by the number, really, but it is disappointing,” he said. “It’s probably symptomatic of a change in society towards drugs and boredom at not being at sea on operations. The Royal Navy detection system clearly works and they deal with those who are caught, but this doesn’t reach the root cause of why the individuals do this. The impact of losing people that you have spent money and time on specialist submarine training is significant. It means it increases the burden on other individuals on board if people suddenly leave.”

The MoD said it had robust measures in place to crack down on drug use by Armed Forces personnel. A Navy spokesman said: “We operate a strict zero-tolerance policy towards drug misuse. Any individual found to have breached this policy can expect to face serious consequences, including immediate discharge from the service. Such behaviour is entirely incompatible with the high standards of professionalism, discipline and integrity expected. All personnel are required to undertake mandatory alcohol and substance misuse training on a biennial basis, ensuring they remain fully aware of their responsibilities and the consequences of non-compliance.”