British Royal Navy HMS Vanguard S-28, SSBN   The lead ship of four Vanguard class, ballistic missiles nuclear submarine,laid down at Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering, in Barrow on September 3, 1986; launched Mars 4, 1992 and commissioned on August 14, 1993.   Vanguard was named by the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Her sea trials and maiden patrol arose a great deal of Russian interest.   In 2000 she participated in trials of the Spearfish torpedo at AUTEC (Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Centre) during which she fired a torpedo at the American warship USS O’Bannon-this unique as usually British submarines fire on British warships during trials.   Back to History Index   Image Country Year Description United Kingdom HMS Vanguard "Launched", 4th March 1992, Barrow-In-Furness Sierra Leone 2001 HMS Vanguard, SSBN S-28 (souvenir sheet) BIOT 2001 HMS Vanguard S-28, SSBN