“Nuclear-armed Trident missiles in the Royal Navy’s Vanguard class SSBNs are a major impediment to the UK’s ability to contribute to the deployment of rapid reaction forces in support of the US, because they are militarily useless: and anyway their use – and therefore any threat to use them – would be unlawful. A confluence of developments in the US, driven by the loss of faith in nuclear deterrence against the most serious threat of extremists armed with weapons of mass destruction, points to a “win-win” solution for the Royal Navy, the US – UK special relationship, and the world wide anti-nuclear movement. Exploiting US plans for some of its Ohio class Trident-armed submarines, a UK decision to convert its four Vanguard class submarines to carry a mix of precision-guided conventional armaments and special forces would restore the Royal Navy’s eroding position as a leading maritime force equipped to work alongside the US Navy, and would probably be encouraged to do so by the US Navy. In doing so, the UK government would gain kudos as being the first recognized nuclear state to break out from its reliance on nuclear weapons for its security, and would position it to take a leading role in the struggle to secure an enforceable global treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons.