Trafalgar-class submarine HMS Turbulent has returned from a record-breaking deployment.

Deployed since June 2002, Turbulent has demonstrated the flexibility and dynamism of a modern nuclear hunter-killer submarine (SSN) in a series of different roles, and has lived up to the ethos of the Silent Service – “work hard, play hard”.

In the ten months that she was away – thought to be the longest deployment of a modern UK SSN – which stands for ship submersible nuclear – she steamed more than 50,000 miles, or over twice around the world, visited six ports and spent 236 days at sea of her 300 days away.

During this period, she had a role to play in Operation Oracle, the international war against terrorism, and Operation Telic, the campaign for the liberation of Iraq.

Turbulent’s Commanding Officer, Cdr Andrew McKendrick, said: “In the last ten months, Turbulent has been from 15 degrees West longitude to 145 degrees East longitude, so we have been almost half-way around the world and back.

“The ship’s company have been faced with some difficult and demanding tasks, and have performed as true professionals throughout.

“We are delighted to be at home again with our friends and families who have supported us so magnificently.”

Having completed a busy period of operational sea training in March 2002, Turbulent sailed from her home port of Devonport in June for what was to be a straightforward deployment east of Suez.

However, her programme was changed at the last minute. Already well on her way to the Mediterranean, she returned to UK waters to host a Submarine Command Course or ‘Perisher’ as its known, and to participate in a Joint Maritime Course (JMC) with several units from foreign forces.

For three weeks the boat was put through her paces, giving the four Perisher students – including the first US Navy student – every opportunity to prove themselves.

On completion of the JMC, the boat exercised with the impressive and highly-capable Seawolf-class American submarine USS Connecticut.

Returning to her original deployment in Operation Oracle, Turbulent passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and to Soudha Bay in Crete for a well-earned break.

After this brief stand-down period, she continued on her journey though the Suez Canal and into the Arabian Sea.

During the subsequent passage to Singapore, Turbulent completed a full missile integration with the US Fifth Fleet.

A very enjoyable visit to Singapore, where the boat was the first UK submarine to visit the new naval base at Changi, became the prelude to a long period of operations in the Far East.

Thereafter the boat continued into the Pacific and on to Guam, where she became the first British submarine to visit the newly-formed US Navy submarine squadron, and the first to call in at the island for five years.

Following her departure from the island, Turbulent headed back west, passing over the Challenger Deep, the deepest part of any ocean in the world. At this point there is 10,909 metres of water – far beyond the limit of any submarine.

She continued through the Celebes Sea, Lombok Strait and on to the British Indian Ocean Territory of Diego Garcia.

The changing international climate meant she then returned to Singapore, where the ship’s company spent Christmas and New Year, many with their families flying out to join them.

The New Year opened with a short period of operations before the boat returned to Diego Garcia.

Turbulent then headed into the Arabian Gulf, where she visited Bahrain, and took up station, poised for possible operations and continuously exercising with coalition warships in the area, including the US aircraft carriers Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Kitty Hawk and Constellation.

The British submarine was involved at the beginning of operations before leaving the Gulf and quietly continuing her journey home. She was escorted northbound through the Suez Canal by HMS Northumberland.

Throughout this busy period, most of the ship’s company was constantly rotated, with some returning to the UK for training and leave on fifth watch.

At sea, there was unprecedented access to email and satellite telephone facilities, enabling frequent communication with families at home.

Socially the Combined Services Entertainment organisation provided the ship’s company with a music and dance show in Guam, and many took part in various sports events during stopovers.

This included a three-day diving course, a sailing expedition along the coast of Malaysia, football matches in many locations and a rugby match in central Singapore.

Many of the ship’s company underwent a traditional and memorable ‘crossing the line’ ceremony in Diego Garcia with a barbecue, refreshments and games on the picturesque sandy beaches of the island.

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