Secondary Naval Munitions Storage Compound

 arsenal / weapon and ammunition storage, military, navy, submarine

Assumed used principally for the storage, maintenance and inspection of special, although non-nuclear, submarine launched missile munitions, principally the Tomahawk cruise missiles now carried on board all RN nuclear attack submarines. As well as for other secondary 'special' submarine munitions, like the sub launched Harpoon anti-ship missile (UGM-84A) and the Mk-24 Tigerfish wire guided torpedo when it was in use.

The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures and acquisitions, is now made by Raytheon. Some Tomahawks were also manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Defense, Space & Security).

US-built Tomahawk is deployed in all RN Attack submarines. In 1995, the first export order for Tomahawk missiles was announced, with the UK ordering 65 missiles, Advanced Tomahawk Weapon Control Systems for seven boats, and a shore-based mission planning system. The missiles are UGM-109C TLAM-C versions to the Block 3/4 build standard, to be launched from standard torpedo tubes.

The UK fired 20 missiles against targets in Serbia in early 1999, with more missiles fired against Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. Tomahawk has a range of up to 1,700kms. In February 2006 it was disclosed that Tomahawk missiles had been purchased as follows: 1997 – 48; 1998 – 17; 2001 – 20; 2003 – 22; 2006 – 64 x Block IV. Average cost of a Block IV Missile is believed to be in the region of £600,000. It was reported that "several" RN Tomahawks were used against Libyan SAM missile sites during the outset of the implementation of the NATO Libyan no fly zone earlier this year (2011).

www.armedforces.co.uk/navy/listings/l0037.html