Every Vanguard class has had a "deep refit period" which the MoD calls a "Long overhaul period and refuel". This was Vanguard's second time in LOP(R) and the fifth time it has ever been conducted on her class.
In an ideal world, this refuelling need never have happened. Unfortunately, radioactive material was discovered in the coolant of a land-based reactor built to the same design used in the Vanguards. This has meant that, in order to make sure that Vanguard makes it to her expected decom date, she has had her reactor core removed and replaced, which is not something that was ever expected to be necessary. It's really a precaution (there's not been a catastrophic failure or anything), but when you have a tight calendar reactor issues can be a big problem- especially in CASD vessels.
Vanguard's issues have led to uncomfortably long inter-refit periods for the others in the class, as HMNB Devonport is currently the only yard that can refit the Vanguard class submarines, and 9 dock has been taken for so long.
Fortunately, Vengeance, Vigilant and Victorious should not need to be refuelled during their next LOP (no aR) so, whilst submarine refits are never "routine" per se, they should be completed within a more acceptable timeframe.
MOD.
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