After Onboard Fire, HMS Victorious S29 Submarine Abandons 'Secret' Mission: British Media

The Royal Navy’s nuclear-armed HMS Victorious S29 Vanguard-class submarine on a covert mission shot to the surface and returned to base following an electrical blaze on-board, reports say.

Navy sources told The Sun that every member of the 130-plus crew on-board the £3 billion submarine was ordered into action after the captain declared an emergency. It was carrying Trident 2 missiles at the time of the incident.

The 30-year-old vessel — which is overdue a major refit — broke surface in the North Atlantic to flush out toxic fumes. It then returned to base at HMNB Clyde in Faslane.

The 16,000-tonne sub is one of four that provides non-stop nuclear deterrent patrols — but was understood not to be in that role at the time.

“The continuous at-sea deterrent is unaffected but we do not comment on the detail of submarine operations,” a Royal Navy spokesman was quoted as saying by the report.