Astute

Fourteen years in the making and costing over a billion pounds ‘The Astute’ nuclear submarine is one of the most technologically advanced machines in the world.

Astute has recently reached a major milestone in her sea trials programme by completing her first deep dive and full power work up.

Following an intensive period of operational sea training and a well-earned Easter Leave period, HMS Richmond recently sailed from Portsmouth to the waters off the North West coast of Scotland.

You wouldn’t want to meet them on a dark night, but luckily the Royal Navy’s most advanced attack submarine,Astute, and the service’s newest Trafalgar class boat are on the same side – and, for that matter, the same river!  

Two of the most advanced naval vessels in the world met for the first time this week, as Dauntless, the second of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, and Astute, the first of class Astute nuclear powered attack submarine, combined on sea trials in the firth of Clyde.

The first of the class "Astute Class attack submarine" sailed from HMNB Clyde Faslane on Tuesday 16 February to continue her programme of sea trials.