The Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced hunter-killer submarine, HMS Anson, is on the verge of joining operational duties following intensive tests in the Atlantic.
HMS Anson, the fifth Astute-class submarine, underwent rigorous trials off the east coast of the United States and in the Caribbean Sea, testing her state-of-the-art systems and weaponry.
The Astute-class submarines, the largest and most advanced attack submarines operated by the Royal Navy, are equipped to launch long-range Tomahawk missiles and lethal Spearfish torpedoes, capable of hitting land targets accurately and defeating enemy submarines.
Anson, which left the shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in February last year, underwent thorough trials and tests before joining her sisters in operations. She spent time in waters off the UK coast and then sailed north of Scotland, successfully firing both Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk test missiles.
The trials intensified in the Atlantic as Anson headed to the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in the waters around the Bahamas. The AUTEC base, operated by the US Navy, is a hub of world-leading experts and technology. The ranges off Andros Island – southwest of Nassau – are centered on the Tongue of the Ocean, a deep-water bowl crammed with sensors and hydrophones to record data on submarine, torpedo, and sonar performance.
Tests at AUTEC are crucial for Anson’s future operations, ensuring she can hunt adversary submarines without detection. These sea trials also provided the crew with the opportunity to rest on Andros Island.
“The opportunity for the majority of the Ship’s Company to 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.”
Copyright and all rights reserved – UK Defence Journal
Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a defence analyst and former army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk
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