Latest on the Love Sub - revealed as HMS Vigilant

Following Submarine Matters article of October 2, 2017 on ship/submarine romances more details of the SSBN likely remonce have been revealed.

Drawing from an article by Ben Farmer, Defencne Correspondent, (UK) Telegraph, October 2, 2017:

HMS Vigilant Commander (Cdr) Stuart Armstrong, UK Royal Navy (RN) “has been removed from his vessel amid claims of an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate."

Cdr Armstrong was taken off HMS Vigilant a 16 x Trident D5 missile armed Vanguard class SSBN submarine and relieved of his duties as a precaution while naval chiefs investigate the allegations.

"Naval sources said the investigation had been launched amid suspicions Cdr Armstrong’s relationship with an unnamed female officer was “closer than it should have been”.

It is understood the 41-year-old commander faces “a full range” of disciplinary measures if found guilty of any wrongdoing and could lose command of.”

HMS Vigilant, “one of Britain’s four Trident submarines, was not on nuclear deterrent patrol at the time and the Ministry of Defence said operations were not affected.” 

[Pete Comment - it may be that HMS Vigilant was restocking its Trident missiles at Kings Bay, Georgia, US nuclear submarine base or training at higly calibrated test ranges near that base.]

“Navy rules forbid any relationships between sailors in the same chain of command for fear it would lead to favouritism and undermine orders.

Relationships outside the chain of command are allowed, but there is a strict “no touching” rule during deployments.

Sources said the rules were considered particularly critical on submarine missions where sailors work in cramped conditions underwater for months at a time.

A source said: “This investigation is part of our duty of care to everyone on board, because of the possibility that command could be undermined by an inappropriate relationship.”