HMS ''Audacious'' is the fourth nuclear-powered fleet

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

.BAE Systems News, 10 December 2012
/ref> Several previous vessels of the Royal Navy have borne the name. She was formally named on 16 December 2016 and was launched on 28 April 2017. Audacious was stated to be handed over in January 2021. A parliamentary written answer stated that ''Audacious'' was commissioned on 3 April 2020, but her public ceremonial commissioning took place on 23 September 2021.

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

torpedo tube A torpedo tube is a cylindrical device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units (also referred to as torpedo launchers) installed aboa ...

s. The submarine is capable of firing

Tomahawk A tomahawk is a type of single-handed axe used by the many Indigenous peoples and nations of North America. It traditionally resembles a hatchet with a straight shaft. In pre-colonial times the head was made of stone, bone, or antler, and Europ ...

Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of and

Spearfish Spearfish may refer to: Places *Spearfish, South Dakota, United States * North Spearfish, South Dakota, United States * Spearfish Formation, a geologic formation in the United States Biology * ''Tetrapturus'', a genus of marlin containing spe ...

heavyweight torpedoes.

History

Long lead items for her construction were ordered on 28 August 2006, although the actual order was not placed until 21 May 2007. Launch was expected in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the submarine was due to leave the yard in 2017. She was eventually formally named on 16 December 2016, and floated out on 28 April 2017, and was due to leave in 2018 for sea trials. The original budget was £1.279b but by 2015 this had risen to £1.492b. The submarine and its crew have formally forged links with the City of Leeds (which had previously had an association with ) by meeting the people at

Elland Road Elland Road is a football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Premier League club Leeds United since the club's formation in 1919. The stadium is the 14th largest football stadium in England. The g ...

in the city and marching in the Armistice Day parade in November 2016. ''Audacious'' completed her first dive at Devonshire Dock over two days in January 2018. She eventually sailed from Barrow on 4 April 2020, and commenced sea trials on 6 April 2020. A parliamentary written answer stated that ''Audacious'' was commissioned on 3 April 2020, but she was ceremonially commissioned on 23 September 2021. In the first half of 2022, the submarine operated in tandem with NATO forces in the eastern Mediterranean.

References

External links

*
''Astute'' Class
(naval-technology.com) {{DEFAULTSORT:Audacious (S122) Astute-class submarines 2017 ships Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness