Back home! One of Britain’s deadly nuclear submarines HMS Astute returns to the Clyde
Back home! One of Britain’s deadly nuclear submarines HMS Astute returns to the Clyde after protecting HMS Queen Elizabeth on aircraft carrier’s first-ever long-range trip
- Nuclear-powered submarine HMS Astute has returned to HM Naval Base Clyde
- It follows a successful deployment with the carrier strike group to Australia
- The submarine was the final Royal Navy vessel to return home before Christmas
Nuclear-powered submarine HMS Astute has returned to her home port of HM Naval Base Clyde, following a successful deployment with the carrier strike group to the Pacific Ocean and back.
The submarine – which is one of four Astute Class boats currently in-service – was the final Royal Navy vessel to return to the UK before Christmas.
Commodore Jim Perks, head of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, said: ‘Despite the challenges of deploying during a global pandemic, Astute has demonstrated the flexibility and reach that a submarine can bring.
‘Her ship’s company can be justifiably proud of what they have achieved.’
HMS Queen Elizabeth was protected by a ring of escort warships during operations, with HMS Astute (pictured) providing an undersea defence against other submarines
Nuclear-powered submarine HMS Astute has returned to her home port of HM Naval Base Clyde, following a successful deployment with the Carrier Strike Group
HMS Astute provided an undersea defence to the Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) and travelled 49,000 nautical miles to the Indo-Pacific Ocean and back
During her deployment with the CSG, HMS Astute visited Australia to help further cement links between the two nations following the announcement of the AUKUS agreement in September.
The trilateral agreement – between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States – will see the nations work to deepen cooperation and engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
The first step will be to determine a plan for a flotilla of nuclear-powered submarines to the Royal Australian Navy.
HMS Astute safely docked in her home port of HMS Naval Base Clyde, after being the last vessel of the carrier strike group to return to the UK before Christmas
The Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth pictured arriving home following the first operational deployment of the carrier strike group (CSG) which was dogged with incidents including the loss of a £100 million fighter jet at sea
The Carrier Strike Group deployment was a milestone in the development of UK Carrier Strike.
It provided an opportunity to gain further experience in operating the Lightning – F-35B – from the Navy’s aircraft carriers.
HMS Queen Elizabeth was protected by a ring of escort warships during operations, with HMS Astute providing an undersea defence against other submarines.
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