The Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced hunter-killer submarine, HMS Anson, is on the verge of joining the operational cycle after undergoing intensive tests in the Atlantic. The fifth of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class boats, HMS Anson, conducted trials off the east coast of the United States and in the Caribbean Sea, rigorously testing her state-of-the-art systems and weaponry.
The Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines are the largest and most advanced attack submarines ever operated by the Navy. They are capable of launching long-range Tomahawk missiles to accurately hit land targets and lethal Spearfish torpedoes to defeat enemy submarines.
Anson and her sister submarines – Astute, Ambush, Artful, and Audacious – possess the remarkable capability to traverse the entire globe while submerged, generating their own oxygen and producing drinking water to support the crews during challenging and prolonged missions.
As a result, this state-of-the-art submarine, which departed the shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in February of last year, necessitates comprehensive trials and testing before it can join its sister submarines in active duty.
Anson conducted extensive sea trials off the UK coast, successfully testing its weapons systems with firings of Spearfish and Tomahawk test missiles. The trials continued in the Atlantic as Anson headed to the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in the waters around the Bahamas.
The AUTEC base of the US Navy is home to top experts and cutting-edge technology, situated next to the breathtaking natural wonder of the Tongue of the Ocean. This massive, 20-mile wide and 150-mile long deep-water basin off Andros Island is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and hydrophones to gather extensive data on submarine, torpedo, and sonar performance.
The tests conducted at AUTEC are vital for ensuring the effectiveness of future operations, particularly in enabling undetected submarine hunting capabilities. The sea trials also gave the crew the chance to get ashore to Andros Island.
“The opportunity for the majority of the Ship’s Company to get spend a few days on Andros was fantastic,” a submariner said. “This afforded us a few days of rest from the sea trials we were conducting and allowed us to spend time on the beach in the sun relaxing and playing volleyball with base personnel.”
Before concluding the day, she wrapped up another round of system testing. Amidst the packed schedule, there was a brief downtime for maintenance at the US Navy submarine base at Kings Bay in Georgia. Anson’s crew had the unique opportunity to meet and interact with the personnel aboard a US Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine.
Meanwhile, a group of 14 UK submariners had the opportunity to visit the esteemed US military college, The Citadel, located in Charleston. During their visit, they engaged with a distinguished 4-star US Marine Corps General and gained valuable insights into the enduring connections between the college and the Submarine Service forged during pivotal operations in the Second World War.
Marking a historic occasion, Anson, the first Royal Navy unit to visit since 1998, solemnly conducted a poignant memorial ceremony at the HMS Seraph Memorial on the College grounds.
Additionally, while navigating the Caribbean waters, Anson orchestrated a remarkable ‘hands to bathe’ event, as sailors courageously stepped onto the submarine’s hydroplanes and immersed themselves in the warm waters, symbolizing the successful completion of a demanding deployment.
