HMS Anson (S123)

HMS Anson is the fifth Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy. She is the eighth vessel of the Royal Navy to bear the name, after Admiral George Anson.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Anson.

HMS Anson in Barrow-in-Furness (August 2022)
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Anson
NamesakeGeorge Anson, 1st Baron Anson
OrderedMarch 2010
BuilderBAE Systems Submarine Solutions
Cost£1.420B (budget)[1]
Laid down13 October 2011
Launched20 April 2021
Sponsored byJulie Weale
Christened11 December 2020
Commissioned31 August 2022[2]
In serviceTBD[3]
IdentificationPennant number: S123
MottoNil desperandum (One mustn't give up hope)
Honours and
awards		Four inherited battle honours
StatusCommissioned, sea trials initiated February 2023
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeAstute-class fleet submarine
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 7,000 to 7,400 t (6,900 to 7,300 long tons)[4][5]
  • Submerged: 7,400 to 7,800 t (7,700 long tons)[4][5]
Length97 m (318 ft 3 in)[4][5]
Beam11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)[4][5]
Draught10 m (32 ft 10 in)[4][5]
PropulsionRolls-Royce PWR 2 reactor, MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators
Speed30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph), submerged[4][5]
RangeUnlimited[6]
Endurance90 days[6]
Test depthOver 300 m (984 ft 3 in)
Complement98 (capacity for 109)[4]
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

History

On 25 March 2010, BAE Systems were given the authorisation by the British government to begin construction on boats 5 and 6 (Anson and Agamemnon), being given a £300 million contract for the "initial build" of boat 5 and "long lead procurement activities" for boat 6.[8] Later that year work was begun on the pressure hull and reactor compartments. On 15 September 2011 it was announced that boat 5 would be named Anson;[9] it was previously believed that boat 5 would be Agamemnon and boat 6 Anson. Her keel was ceremonially laid on 13 October 2011.[10][11] On 19 November 2015, a possible new contract worth £1.3 billion was signed for HMS Anson.[12] She was officially named on 11 December 2020,[13][14] was rolled out of the Devonshire Dock Hall on 19 April 2021,[15] and launched on 20 April 2021.[16] It completed its first practice dive in a dock on 14 February 2022.[17] She was commissioned on 31 August 2022 prior to starting sea trials.[18][19] On 19 February 2023 she left Barrow for the first time for her sea trials.[20]

Design

Propulsion

Anson's nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25-year service. Since the submarine can purify water and air, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The main limit is that the submarine will only be able to carry three months' supply of food for 98 officers and ratings.

Weapons

Anson will have provision for up to 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.[21] The submarine will be capable of using Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres)[22] and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

References
  1. "Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2015 and the Equipment Plan 2015 to 2025" (PDF). National Audit Office. 22 October 2015. p. 43.
  2. "PM speech at the Commissioning of HMS Anson: 31 August 2022".
  3. "Ministry of Defence HMS Audacious". parliament.uk. UK Hansard. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020. The delay to the delivery of Audacious will have some impact on the schedule for the next Astute Class, Anson.
  4. Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-1904459552.
  5. "Astute-class attack submarines". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. "BAE Systems - Astute class submarines". baesystems.com. BAE Systems. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  7. "UK's most powerful submarine joins the Navy". Ministry of Defence. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  8. "£300M Order Boost For Shipyard". North West Evening Mail. 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012.
  9. "Navy's newest Astute Class submarine named". Ministry of Defence. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  10. "Underwater Tests Mark Ambush Milestone". North West Evening Mail. 5 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014.
  11. "Barrow keel-laying ceremony for Astute-class submarine". BBC News. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  12. "£1.3Bn contract awarded for latest attack submarine - News stories - GOV.UK". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  13. "HMS Anson: Fifth Astute-Class Submarine Officially Named". British Forces Broadcasting Service. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  14. "Fifth hunter-killer submarine named Anson". GOV.UK. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  15. Allison, George (19 April 2021). "New nuclear submarine HMS Anson rolled out". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  16. "Fifth state-of-the-art Astute submarine is launched". BAE Systems. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  17. "Hunter-killer HMS Anson completes first practice dive in dock". Royal Navy. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  18. Edwards, Lucy (31 August 2022). "Boris Johnson visits BAE Systems in Barrow". cumbriacrack.com. Cumbria Crack. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  19. Allison, George (31 August 2022). "World's most advanced attack submarine joins British fleet". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  20. "BAE Systems delivers fifth and most advanced Astute submarine to the Royal Navy". BAE Systems International. 19 February 2023.
  21. "Alien submarine breaks technical barriers". BBC News. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  22. "United States Navy Fact File: Tomahawk Land Attack Missile". navy.mil. US Navy. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
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