Hm Naval Base Clyde News

The U.K. Royal Navy’s fourth Astute class submarine, Audacious, has completed its first ever dive, marking a milestone on the path toward full sea trials later in 2018. The trim and basin dive took place over two days in early January in Devonshire Dock, at builder BAE Systems's site in Barrow-in-Furness. The operation, which saw Audacious submerge fully underwater for the first time, allowed a team from Royal Navy, Ministry of Defense and BAE Systems to test many of the sub’s onboard systems, and proved the safety and stability of the 7,400-metric-ton, 97-meter-long attack submarine.

The Royal Navy's latest submarine, HMS Artful, will be officially commissioned at a ceremony today. It will take place at Faslane naval base on the Clyde, with representatives of the Royal Navy and the companies that built the vessel present. Guest of honor at the ceremony will be the submarine's sponsor Lady Amanda Zambellas, who named the vessel during its launch in 2014. Artful, the third of the Royal Navy’s new Astute-class attack submarines, has been busy conducting her final Contractor Sea Trials ahead of her maiden deployment. The sophisticated submarine sailed from Barrow-in-Furness in August last year for her new home at HM Naval Base Clyde and since then has been proving her systems and equipment at sea.

The Royal Navy's latest, most advanced attack submarine commissioned into the Royal Navy at HM Naval Base Clyde. Ambush was commissioned into the Royal Navy during a ceremony overseen by the submarine’s crew, naval base workers and around 500 invited guests. Among the dignitaries attending the event was the First Sea Lord , Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, and the vessel’s sponsor, Lady Anne Soar, who were joined by representatives from the City of Derby , to which the submarine is affiliated. Also in attendance were proud family members and loved ones of the crew.

'Ambush', second of the Royal Navy's, new Astute Class attack submarines, sails into Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde today to begin sea trials. The 7,400-tonne submarine sailed from the shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, where she was built, to HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland. The seven Astute-class boats planned for the Royal Navy are the most advanced and powerful attack submarines Britain has ever sent to sea. They feature the latest nuclear-powered technology, which means they never need to be refuelled and can circumnavigate the world submerged…

The vessel, one of the UK's four Vanguard Class nuclear submarines, has been officially handed back to the Navy for operational use. Known as a Long Overhaul Period (Refuel), the work package was an enormous engineering task, with the submarine emerging as effectively a new boat inside. Around 2.2 million man-hours were involved in the overhaul under a £350m contract with Babcock Marine at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth. The work that was carried out included the installation of improved strategic weapons equipment and the integration of the tactical weapons command systems.

The two ships will join the UK task force based in the Gulf. Sandown Class HMS Shoreham left her home port of HM Naval Base Clyde, while Hunt Class HMS Atherstone left her home of Portsmouth. En route the two ships will operate together in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, giving support to a multinational task force providing security in the troubled waters. Sailing HMS Shoreham is the Faslane-based First Mine Countermeasures Squadron's Crew 4; 38 sailors who will see the vessel safely to her destination during the two-month voyage.

The BBC reported that a passenger ferry on the River Clyde was caught up in an international war exercise. Operation Neptune Warrior, a training exercise for Nato warships, is taking place off the west coast of Scotland. A threat by the U.S. Navy to fire on unidentified ships was transmitted to the Kilcreggan to Gourock ferry as it crossed a ship's path. A spokesman for HM Naval Base Clyde said the ferry was in no danger and an investigation is under way. The MV Kenilworth was making its regular 10-minute crossing at about 0940 BST on Monday when the incident happened. The ship was leaving Faslane naval base for the two-week exercise. It is understood it mistakenly broadcast a warning on VHF Channel 16, the international calling and distress frequency, instead of on an exercise frequency.