British Nuclear Submarines to Be Protected From Drones With Fire Hoses

In the United Kingdom, crews of Vanguard-class strategic nuclear submarines are being trained to use high-pressure fire hoses to defend against drone attacks.

The Sun reports this, citing sources in the Royal Navy.

Fire hoses are placed on the submarines’ decks while they are docked at HMNB Clyde in Faslane, Scotland. They are intended to serve as the last line of defence against drones that manage to get past shore-based counter-drone systems.

The hoses are fitted with pistol-grip nozzles that allow crews to direct a powerful jet of water at aerial targets. According to a source cited by the publication, in the event of an attack by small and medium-sized FPV drones, crews are expected to try to shoot them down or deflect them off course.

Drones pose a particular threat to submarines when they are docked in port or operating on the surface. HMNB Clyde is located in the narrow Gare Loch, which is about one kilometre wide. The surrounding terrain, as well as the presence of public roads and hills near the base could leave defenders with limited time to respond to drones launched from close range.

The UK Ministry of Defence stressed that protecting military facilities involves a multi-layered system that includes physical barriers, patrols, surveillance, and counter-drone measures. The agency also announced an additional £470 million investment over the next four years to strengthen the security of military facilities.

Militarnyi previously reported that suspicious sensors, which may have been used by Russia to track submarines, were discovered near the routes taken by British nuclear submarines leaving HMNB Clyde. The Vanguard-class submarines, armed with Trident II D5 ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads, are of particular interest.