Today at HM Naval Base Clyde, a ceremony was performed to formally commission HMS Audacious (S122), a fearsome Astute-Class attack submarine. To welcome HMS Audacious to the Royal Navy fleet, members of the ship’s company and staff from the Submarine Flotilla (SUBFLOT) gathered at the Faslane facility. With the event, the ship’s lengthy testing and sea trials came to an end, and it is now prepared for use in Royal Navy missions worldwide.

During the commissioning procedure, Commodore Jim Howard, the Commander of SUBFLOT, expressed his appreciation for the crew’s commitment and professionalism. He underlined the significance of this achievement and the role that Astute-Class submarines play in contemporary naval operations.

The newest nuclear-powered fleet submarine in the Royal Navy’s inventory is HMS Audacious. In terms of their capabilities, communication systems, and stealth technologies, these submarines set a new benchmark. Seven boats were planned when they were built by BAE Systems Submarines in Barrow-in-Furness. The class’s first ship, HMS Astute, was launched in 2007 by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, put into service in 2010, and was pronounced fully functional in May 2014. The Royal Navy’s fleet submarines of the Trafalgar class are being replaced by vessels of the Astute class.

The 38 weapon tubes of the Astute-class submarines are loaded with a combination of £870,000 worth of Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes. The maximum range at which the Tomahawk missiles may strike a target is 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers). An upgraded version of the Submarine Command System, which is deployed aboard additional British submarine classes, is called the Astute Common Combat Management System. The containers have the capacity to function autonomously, producing their own oxygen and recycling their own water and air.

HMS Audacious’s commanding officer, Commodore Jim Parks, praised the dedication of the families who supported the submariners during the voyage and expressed his respect for the crew’s hard work during the rigorous testing. HMS Audacious has reached a major turning point in its history with this ceremonial commissioning ceremony, which also serves as evidence of the Royal Navy’s commitment to maritime preparedness and defense.