After 15 years in service, Royal Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Astute has returned to HMNB Devonport to begin a mid-life refit.
The lead boat in her class, the conventionally armed submarine sailed back into the Devon base last week to begin what is formally known as her Mid Life Re-Validation Period (MLRP), to be carried out by Babcock International.
The first of the A-boats, HMS Astute has been in active service since 2010, making her stint the longest first commission in the history of the Silent Service. As per a recent RN statement, over the last nine months she has been at sea in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
There are five Astute-class boats in service with the Royal Navy; the other four are Ambush, Artful, Audacious, and Anson. A sixth vessel, HMS Agamemnon, is scheduled to be commissioned later this year and the final boat in the class, HMS Achilles, is nearing completion in Barrow.
Before the handover to Babcock the submarine’s crew were given the chance to take friends, families and VIP guests to sea briefly, heading out of Plymouth and diving beneath the waves for a few hours.
Commander Christopher Bate, the boat’s Commanding Officer, explained: “This snapshot was a small token from the ship’s company to celebrate and thank friends and families for the support and sacrifices made while HMS Astute had been away and on operations and show them some of the differences that life on a nuclear submarine holds.”
- You can read more details on the Royal Navy website