ON FRIDAY June 14 1968, HMS Resolution slipped away from her berth at Faslane.

There were no wives to wave farewell, no Royal Marines Band to wish the submarine godspeed, no reporters or photographers to mark the moment.

Thus began the first nuclear deterrent patrol by the Royal Navy.

With the same understatement – and resolve of purpose – HMS Vengeance returned to UK waters after completing the 300th deterrent patrol.

Upholding the right of the line has devoured some 50 million ‘man hours’ on patrols (the round-the-clock constant presence actually began in April 1969, ten months after Resolution’s inaugural patrol).

Most of the crew of Vengeance, the fourth and final of the Vanguard-class boats which currently carry Britain’s nuclear arsenal, were not born when Resolution began that first patrol with Polaris missiles aboard – forerunners of today’s Tridents.

The boats, the technology, the uniforms, the hairstyles have all changed, but “the awesome responsibility” as then Defence Secretary Denis Healy called it in 1968 has remained the same and been borne with the same resilience.

Mr Healy’s latest successor, Des Browne, was waiting for Vengeance as she returned from that 300th patrol off the Isle of Arran, accompanied by First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, and the head of the Silent Service, Rear Admiral David Cooke.

Once safely aboard, the VIPs were given a thorough tour of the 16,000-tonne leviathan by Commanding Officer of Vengeance’s starboard crew Cdr Mark Lister, while his boat slipped beneath the waves.

Both Mr Browne and Admiral Band were quick to praise the crews of the ballistic missile boats, whose deeds are certainly unseen and invariably unsung.

“What a huge achievement by the whole deterrent force over some 38 years,” Admiral Band told Cdr Lister.

“After a perfectly-executed patrol, your people can be rightly proud of their achievements across the board.”

Mr Browne added: “The completion of 300 strategic deterrent patrols highlights the major contribution the Submarine Service makes to the peace and security of the United Kingdom.”