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HMS Astute
Astute on the shiplift after launch.
There has been one previous Royal Navy submarine named Astute.
An Amphion Class submarine built at Barrow-in-Furness she was launched in late 1944 and commissioned on 30th June 1945. She had an uneventful career and was eventually scrapped at Dunston on Tyne in October 1970.
The current 7,400 tonne hunter killer submarine HMS Astute was launched by the Duchess of Cornwall on 8th June 2007. After being fitted out she departed Barrow-in-Furness in mid November 2009 to carry out a three week period of sea trials before arriving at her home port of Faslane on 8th December. Prior to her eventual commissioning, and acceptance into the Royal Navy, Astute will have carried out a series of trials and exercises designed to test her warfighting capability. She will also have crossed the Atlantic to carry out procedural test firing on her Tomahawk and Spearfish weapon systems.
HMS Astute, the worlds most sophisticated nuclear sub
HMS Astute was commissioned on 27th August 2010 at Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde (HMS Neptune). During the commissioning ceremony the Merchant Navy Blue Ensign, which has been flown while on sea trials and under the control of BAE, will be lowered and the White Ensign hoisted signifying her entry into service with the Royal Navy. The Guest of Honour at the commissioning ceremony was Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall who, as patron of HMS Astute, has closely followed the boats progress since it was launched and will continue to take a deep interest in the submarine and her crew – especially when deployed across the oceans of the world.
Previous Section: The Current Ships of the Royal Navy
See our Short History of the Royal Navy and Aircraft Carriers of the Royal Navy
Aircraft Carriers
HMS Illustrious
HMS Ark Royal
Assault Ships
HMS Ocean
HMS Albion
HMS Bulwark
Frigates
Type 22 Frigates
Type 23 Frigates
Type 26 (FSC) Frigates
Destroyers
Type 42 Destroyers
Type 45 Destroyers
HM Submarines
Vanguard Class SSBN
Trafalgar Class SSN
Astute Class SSN
