HMS Audacious (S122)

HMS Audacious is the fourth Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy.[8] Several previous vessels of the Royal Navy have borne the name. She was formally named on 16 December 2016[2] and was launched on 28 April 2017.[9][10] Audacious was stated to be handed over in January 2021.[11] A parliamentary written answer stated that Audacious was commissioned on 3 April 2020,[12] but her public ceremonial commissioning took place on 23 September 2021.[13]

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

Audacious under construction in Barrow-in-Furness in July 2013
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Audacious
OrderedMay 2007
BuilderBAE Systems Submarine Solutions
Cost£1.492B (budget)[1]
Laid down24 March 2009
Launched28 April 2017
Sponsored byLady Elizabeth Jones
Christened16 December 2016[2]
Commissioned23 September 2021
In service24 September 2021
IdentificationPennant number: S122
StatusIn active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeAstute-class fleet submarine
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 7,000 to 7,400 t (6,900 to 7,300 long tons)[3][4]
  • Submerged: 7,400 to 7,800 t (7,300 to 7,700 long tons)[3][4]
Length97 m (318 ft 3 in)[3][4]
Beam11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)[3][4]
Draught10 m (32 ft 10 in)[3][4]
Propulsion
Speed30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph), submerged[3][4]
RangeUnlimited[6]
Endurance90 days[6]
Test depthOver 300 m (984 ft 3 in)
Complement98 (capacity for 109)[3]
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

Design

Propulsion

Audacious's nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25-year service. The submarine can purify water and air, and will be able to circumnavigate the planet without surfacing. However, she carries three months' supply of food for 98 officers and ratings.

Weapons

Audacious has provision for up-to 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.[14] The submarine is capable of firing Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres)[15] and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

History

Long lead items for her construction were ordered on 28 August 2006,[16] although the actual order was not placed until 21 May 2007.[17] Launch was expected in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the submarine was due to leave the yard in 2017.[18] She was eventually formally named on 16 December 2016,[2] and floated out on 28 April 2017, and was due to leave in 2018 for sea trials.[10] The original budget was £1.279b but by 2015 this had risen to £1.492b.[1]

The submarine and its crew have formally forged links with the City of Leeds (which had previously had an association with HMS Ark Royal) by meeting the people at Elland Road in the city and marching in the Armistice Day parade in November 2016.[19]

Audacious completed her first dive at Devonshire Dock over two days in January 2018.[20][21] She eventually sailed from Barrow on 4 April 2020, and commenced sea trials on 6 April 2020.[22] A parliamentary written answer stated that Audacious was commissioned on 3 April 2020,[12] but she was ceremonially commissioned on 23 September 2021.[13]

In the first half of 2022, the submarine operated in tandem with NATO forces in the eastern Mediterranean.[23] She was again reported in the eastern Mediterranean in early 2023, including stopping for a rest and maintenance period in Limassol Cyprus.[24] In April 2023 Audacious completed a 363 day deployment, the longest ever for any Astute-class, and returned to Devonport[25] and then Faslane.[26] Owing to a lack of dry dock facilities pending maintenance work, in October 2023 Audacious was still alongside in Devonport[27]

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. "Fourth Astute class submarine formally named" (Press release). Ministry of Defence. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  3. Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-1904459552.
  4. "Astute-class attack submarines". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. Kuperman, Alan; von Hippel, Frank (10 April 2020). "US study of reactor and fuel types to enable naval reactors to shift from HEU fuel". International Panel on Fissile Materials. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  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. BAE Systems News, 10 December 2012
  9. "BAE Systems launches Audacious - the fourth state-of-the-art Astute submarine" (Press release). BAE Systems. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  10. "Fourth new Astute-class submarine Audacious launched at Barrow-in-Furness" (Press release). Royal Navy. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  11. "Astute Class Submarines Boat 4 Accounting Officer Assessment" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/. UK Parliament. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019. The Operational handover for AUDACIOUS is now planned for January 2021.
  12. "Ministry of Defence Astute Class Submarines". parliament.uk. UK Hansard. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020. HMS AUDACIOUS was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 3 April 2020
  13. Royal Navy in Scotland [@RNinScotland] (23 September 2021). "The fourth @RoyalNavy #Astute-class #submarine, HMS Audacious, has been ceremonially commissioned into the fleet" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 September 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. "Alien submarine breaks technical barriers". BBC News. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  15. "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.
  16. "New nuclear sub is lifeline for Barrow". BBC News Online. 28 August 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2007.
  17. "Royal Navy to Get New Attack Submarine". Royal Navy. 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2007.
  18. Andrew Chuter (14 August 2015). "UK's 3rd Astute-class Sub Begins Sea Trials". Defensenews.com. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  19. Gray, Mike, ed. (January 2017). "Audacious goes to Elland Road". Navy News. No. 750. Portsmouth: Royal Navy. p. 5. ISSN 0028-1670.
  20. BAE Systems (15 January 2018). "Fourth Astute class submarine completes first dive". BAE Systems. The trim and basin dive took place over two days in Devonshire Dock, at the Company's site in Barrow-in-Furness last week.
  21. Adamczyk, Ed (17 January 2018). "British submarine HMS Audacious completes first dive". UPI. The Royal Navy's fourth Astute-class attack submarine was completely submerged for the first time at the company's Barrow, England, facility, and many of the 318-feet long vessel's onboard systems were successfully tested.
  22. "Residents urged to abide by lockdown rules as sub leaves Barrow". The Mail. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  23. "Royal Navy hunter-killer submarine completes NATO patrol in the Mediterranean". navyrecognition.com. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  24. @NavyLookout (11 January 2023). "HMS Audacious sailed from 🇨🇾Limassol today after 39 days alongside" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. HMS Audacious S122 enters Devonport naval base at Devil's Point 1-4-23. 1 April 2023.
  26. "Hunter-killer submarine HMS Audacious home after historic Mediterranean deployment". 7 April 2023.
  27. @NavyLookout (18 October 2023). "HMS Audacious alongside in Devonport since April awaiting maintenance pending available dry dock" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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