Sea vessels

Astute: Navy's Newest Submarine Class In Pictures

The fifth Astute-class submarine, HMS Anson, has been launched at BAE Systems' site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

HMS Anson joins HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful and HMS Audacious in the fleet based at HMNB Faslane.

The 7,400-tonne submarines are the biggest and most powerful ever built for the Royal Navy.

They come with a number of firsts, such as being the first Navy submarines fitted without optical periscopes – instead using high-specification video technology.

The submarines also come fitted with world-leading sensors, Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

Royal Navy submarine HMS Astute sails up the Clyde estuary into her home port of Faslane, Scotland (Picture: MOD).

HMS Artful, the Royal Navy's third Astute Class nuclear submarine, being lowered into the water at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria — HMS Artful, the Royal Navy's third Astute class nuclear submarine, being lowered into the water in 2015 (Picture: MOD).

HMS Artful, the third of the Royal Navy’s new Astute Class attack submarines 060910 CREDIT MOD — HMS Artful arriving at HMNB Clyde, Scotland (Picture: MOD).

HMS Artful, the third of the Royal Navy’s new Astute Class attack submarines, arrived at her Scottish base port HMNB Clyde — HMS Artful, like all other Astute class submarines, is capable of circumnavigating the globe submerged (Picture: MOD).

The Royal Navy's fourth Astute class submarine, HMS Audacious, under construction (Picture: MOD).

HMS Audacious, the fourth of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines, arriving at her new home at HM Naval Base Clyde — HMS Audacious arriving at her new home, HMNB Clyde, in 2020 (Picture: MOD).

HMS Anson, the fifth Astute class attack submarine, being launched at BAE Systems' site in Barrow-in-Furness — HMS Anson, the fifth Astute class submarine, was launched at BAE Systems' site in Barrow-in-Furness in April 2021 (Picture: BAE Systems).

The submarines are also capable of circumnavigating the globe submerged and producing their own oxygen and drinking water.

If the cables on board an Astute submarine were laid out end-to-end, they would stretch from Barrow to Preston – about 222 miles.

And during a 10-week patrol, the 98-strong crew of an Astute class submarine will get through, on average, 18,000 sausages and 4,200 Weetabix for breakfast.

Cover image: HMS Artful, the third of the Royal Navy’s new Astute-class attack submarines (Picture: MOD).