HMS Audacious: Submarine based at Faslane completes first mission

HMS Audacious is the fourth of seven new cutting-edge £1.3bn Astute-class submarines, all of them based at HM Naval Base Clyde.

The submarine, launched in 2017, joined her sisters – HMS Astute, Ambush and Artful – on the front line for the first time in January, having first arrived on the Gareloch in April 2020 and been commissioned last September.

HMS Audacious departs Souda Bay in Crete ahead of NATO training and operations in the Mediterranean. The Astute-class submarine was on her first operational deployment from January 2022. Audacious can be seen flying the NATO pennant on her departure from

The boat’s first operational deployment was spent in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic after training and final trials were carried out off the Scottish coast.

The submarine joined her sisters – HMS Astute, Ambush and Artful – on the front line for the first time in January after formally being commissioned in September 2021, spending months in the depths of the North Atlantic and Mediterranean.

After loading Tomahawk missiles – just one part of the Astute-class’s powerful armoury alongside the Spearfish heavyweight torpedo – in Gibraltar, Audacious sailed into the Mediterranean and completed exercises with NATO allies, including training with Greek, Turkish and United States allies.

HMS Audacious departs Souda Bay in Crete ahead of NATO training and operations in the Mediterranean. The Astute-class submarine was on her first operational deployment from January 2022. The Italian frigate Carlo Margottini can be seen in the background.

The training tested Audacious’ ability to evade, track and engage her foes underwater and on the surface.

It offered NATO allies the chance to pit their wits against a nuclear attack submarine – a relatively rare training opportunity for many navies, as they looked to hunt down Audacious beneath the waves.

“These exercises helped HMS Audacious to demonstrate her prowess as the newest, most capable SSN that the UK has to offer while also strengthening NATO capability and interoperability and demonstrating our resolve towards NATO Missions,” said Commanding Officer, Commander Jim Howard.

HMS Audacious departs Souda Bay in Crete ahead of NATO training and operations in the Mediterranean. The Astute-class submarine was on her first operational deployment from January 2022. Audacious can be seen flying the NATO pennant on her departure from

Audacious followed this up by carrying out a period of NATO operations to provide security to the region, something the Royal Navy regularly carries out alongside allies and partners.

Before her foray into the Med, Audacious carried out essential training off the coast of Scotland, during which submariners were put through a range of mock crises on board, from fires to floods, to ensure they are ready to work together and respond calmly in a real emergency.

Final trials were completed, too, which thoroughly tested systems on the cutting-edge boat to make sure they will stand up to the stresses and strains of extended operations.

HMS Audacious departs Souda Bay in Crete ahead of NATO training and operations in the Mediterranean. The Astute-class submarine was on her first operational deployment from January 2022. Audacious can be seen flying the NATO pennant on her departure from

The Astute-class are capable of circumnavigating the globe while submerged, producing their own oxygen and drinking water to sustain the crews on arduous and lengthy deployments.

Making sure all equipment is ready for long-term action is vital before Audacious stepped off on operations.

Audacious’ first deployment also marked the completion of qualifications for many crew members, which sees them learn the location and function of hundreds of valves aboard and ‘earn their dolphins’ to become fully-fledged submariners.

HMS Audacious departs Souda Bay in Crete ahead of NATO training and operations in the Mediterranean. The Astute-class submarine was on her first operational deployment from January 2022. Audacious can be seen flying the NATO pennant on her departure from

Fresh from her own deployment to the Arctic, in which she carried out a number of missions including sub-surface stealth raids with Royal Marines Commandos, sister submarine HMS Ambush joined Audacious as she limbered up for full operations off the Scottish coast.

The two submarines went head-to-head in underwater battles, going toe to toe in a range of warfare scenarios and training together.

The first vessel in the class, HMS Astute, was commissioned in August 2010.

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With four now in active service, the fifth, HMS Anson, is currently undergoing testing and fitting out after being launched in April 2021.

Construction of the last two Astute-class boats - HMS Agamemnon and HMS Agincourt - began in 2013 and 2018 respectively; the last of the class is expected to be in service by the end of 2026.

The Astute class is the replacement for the Trafalgar class of hunter-killer submarines.

Only one vessel in that class - HMS Triumph - is still in active service, HMS Talent having been decommissioned in May.