Vanguard Class SSBN in 1/350 Scale

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member

My Review and Build of Bronco 1/350 scale Kit #NB5015,
Vanguard Class SSN, HMS Vengeance, S31
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Last updated: Control surfaces, dive planes, sail, hull and propulsor - September 25, 2015​
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<u>Introduction - The Vanguard Class Nuclear Attack Submarines</u>:
In 1980, the British government determined that they needed to replace their ballistic missile submarine fleet of four Resolution class SSBNs that they had operated since the 1960s which had used the Polaris sub-launched ballistic missiles. With the advent of the new Trident missiles in the US, Great Britain wanted to move to using those missiles because of their greater range, their greater accuracy, and their ability to MIRV into more independently targeted weapons.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at the time wrote to US President Carter to request a supply of Trident I (C4) missiles on a similar basis to the arrangement the UK had with the Polaris missiles for the United Kingdom's next generation ballistic missile submarines. This deal had not been made by the time Carter left office, and in 1982 Thatcher wrote to US President Ronald Reagan to request the UK be allowed to procure the improved Trident II (D5) missiles, which had been accelerated by the US Navy. An agreement was signed in March 1982 to do this, and under the a new agreement, the United Kingdom made a 5% research and development contribution to the Trident D5 program.

The keel of the first boat, HMS Vanguard, S28, was laid on September 3, 1986. She was launched in 1992 and commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1993. Three more vessels, the HMS Victorious, S29, HMS Vigilant, S30, and HMS Vengeance, S31, followed and were commissioned in 1995, 1996, and 1999 respectively.

These are the largest submarines ever built by the United Kingdom. Each displaces 15,900 tons and is 492 feet long and has a beam of 42 feet. Each submarine has sixteen launch tubes for Trident D5 SLBMs, each of which has a range of over 6,100 miles and can carry up to eight independently targeted warheads.

These vessels also have four 21-inch torpedo tubes for heavy-weight Spearfish torpedoes for self defense against enemy submarines or surface vessels if needed.

But these boats are not meant to engage enemy vessels or be found by them. They are extremely quiet and they lurk in the deepest, furthest places in the ocean in case they are ever needed.

These vessels now provide the only nuclear deterrence capability available for the UK, and have been doing so since 1993. Next to the US Navy Ohio class SSBNs, they are considered the most quiet and most effective SSBN vessels on earth.

In 2006, the process for determining how to replace these vessels was initiated. Each vessel is expected to serve between 25 and 30 years, meaning that in 2028-2032 the first replacement vessel would need to be available. At the time (2006) England's Prime Minister told the government that it would be "unwise and dangerous" for the UK to give up its nuclear weapons on ballistic missile submarines. A plan was outlined at the time to spend up to £20 billion on the next generation of submarines for Trident missiles. The plan called for the number of nuclear warheads to be cut by 20% from 200 to 160 weapons. The plan stipulated that although the Cold War with the Soviet Union had ended, the UK needed its weapons, because current and other nuclear threats would emerge in the future.

In September 2009, the new Prime Minister confirmed that a reduction to three submarines was under consideration. But in February 2011, the Defense Secretary stated that four submarines would be needed for the UK was to retain its current capabilities. In May 2011 the British government approved the initial assessment phase for the construction of SSBN submarines, paving the way for the ordering of the first long-lead items and preparations for the main builds. The new submarine class will retain Trident II D5 missiles, will incorporate a new 'PWR3' nuclear reactor, and will also incorporate new technologies developed for the Astute-class nuclear attack submarines (SSN).

The cost for four new boats ia estimated to be £15–20 billion at 2007 prices, and they too will have a projected life span of 25-30 years

Specifications/Characteristics for Vanguard Submarines:
Displacement: 15,9000 tons submerged
Length: 492 feet
Beam: 42 Feet
Draft: 39 feet
Propulsion: 1 x PWR2 Reactor
- 2 x GEC Turbines
- 1 x Shaft w/Pump Jet propuslor
- 2 x retractable aux propulsion motors
Speed: 25 knots submerged
Crew: 135 personnel
Armament:
- 16 x Trident II D5 nuclear missiles (up to 8 warheads each)
- 04 x 21inch torpedo tubes for Swordfish heavy torpedoes
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member

Introduction and What's in the Box</font> - September 25, 2015

Broncos builds excellent 1/350 scale, plastic injected molded models all types. They have an excellent fit with very little if any flash or other molding residue. Their submarines by nature do not have many parts, but usually include nice, small sets of photo etched parts, and they build-out into very nice looking and accurate representation of the boats they are meant to depict. To my knowledge they make

the only 1/350 scale injected molded plastic kit of the Royal Navy's Vanguard Class of nuclear attack submarines in 1/350 scale.

The Bronco kit comes in a nice box, that is well built, and contains a very nice image of the boat on its cover, as well as images of the model on the side panels. The hull is made up of two pieces, and upper pieces, and a lower section. The sail is a separate single peice on the sprue. The horizontal and vertical control surfaces can be modeled to move, and the two forward dive planes are provided and can be shown either retracted, or in place.

There is a single sprue of plastic pieces which include the fore planes, the diving planes, the sail. The plastic sprue also contains the three piece propuslor assembly and all of the masts and sensors for the boat, as well as some deck mounted fixtures.

There is also a photo etch sprue that contains some small pieces, and the name plate. The decal sheet contains the depth markings for the hull, and a few other markings.

The instructions are very intuitive and straight forward and in full color. They include an excellent paint scheme for the boat., also in full color.

Here are the pictures of this:


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<u>The Build - Control surfaces, diving planes, hull, and propulsor</u></font> - September 25, 2015

I started by building the horizontal and vertical control surfaces that fit on the stern of the boat. The horizontal ones have to be in place before gluing the two hull pieces together. I did this, and then added the sail and the vertical control surfaces, as well as the dive planes forward on the vessel.


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Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
I then painted the overall vessel in the flat black it is painted in.


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At this point I built the propuslor unit on the stern of the vessel. This is made up of four parts. The propuslor is an excellent innovation that was later added to the existing Royal Navy Trafalgar SSNs and also to their new Astute Class SSNs. The device has also been adopted on the US Navy Sea Wolf SSN submarines and the newer Virginia class SSN submarines.


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Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
With the hull painted and having the sail, the control surfaces, dive planes and propuslor attached, the vessel is almost complete.


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She is looking very good. In my next session I will add all of the masts and sensors, add the decals, do any touch up paint, and then complete the model.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member

The Build - Missiles, Masts/Sensors/Periscopes, Decals, Complete< - September 26, 2015

I started this session by building the two Trident II D5 missiles that came with the kit and their hatch covers. I then placed these on the vessel, one all the way down in its tube and the other coming out

of it.


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I then added painted and added all of the masts, sensors, and persicope on the sail.


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Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
The kit comes with the decals that mark the vessel. These are marker lines for the side facing sonars, depth marks, and hatch covers. They went on nicely.


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I then did touch up work on the vessel, painted the sonar dome on the bow, and then added the two coats of dull coat finish to the vessel and she was complete.

Here are the finished photos:


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Jeff Head

General
Registered Member

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So there you have her. The Royal Navy Banguard Clas SSBN in 1.350 scale. she is a beautiful boat.

Oh...she's a little dust, but here is the Royal Navy Asuste Class SSN in 1/350 scael (a very modern and excellent class) next to the Vanguard class for comparison.


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