British nuclear deterrence threatened by the Covid-19 epidemic

In recent weeks, we have regularly addressed the dramatic consequences that the coronavirus epidemic can have when the virus invites itself on board a ship at sea. The cases of French and American aircraft carriers have been widely commented by the press, including at Meta-Défense. However, some submarines have also seen their operations halted after several cases of Covid-19 have been detected or suspected on board. This is particularly the case in Russia where an Oscar-II saw his crew quarantined, while a Dutch submarine had to return to port when eight sailors on board contracted the coronavirus.

Systematically, the suspension of activity of a ship or a submarine temporarily reduces the military power of the navy concerned, without serious consequences for the moment. However, the situation could well become much more complicated for the Royal Navy, which could face in the coming weeks a complete suspension of its nuclear ballistic missile submarine patrols (SSBN in French, SSBN in English). However, the four Vanguard-class submarines equipped with Trident II missiles constitute the entirety of the British nuclear deterrent, since the United Kingdom no longer has airborne nuclear bombs or land-based missiles.

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