HMS Audacious (S122)

HMS Audacious is the fourth Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy.[8] Several previous vessels of the Royal Navy have borne the name. She was formally named on 16 December 2016[2] and was launched on 28 April 2017.[9][10] Audacious is stated to be handed over in January 2021.[11] A parliamentary written answer stated that Audacious was commissioned on 3 April 2020.[12]

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Audacious.

Audacious under construction in Barrow-in-Furness in July 2013
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Audacious
Ordered: May 2007
Builder: BAE Systems Submarine Solutions
Cost: £1.492B (budget)[1]
Laid down: 24 March 2009
Launched: 28 April 2017
Sponsored by: Lady Elizabeth Jones
Christened: 16 December 2016[2]
Commissioned: 3 April 2020
In service: 2021 (delayed)[3]
Identification: Pennant number: S122
Status: Sea trials
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Astute-class fleet submarine
Displacement:
  • Surfaced: 7,000 to 7,400 t (6,900 to 7,300 long tons; 7,700 to 8,200 short tons)[4][5]
  • Submerged: 7,400 to 7,800 t (7,300 to 7,700 long tons; 8,200 to 8,600 short tons)[4][5]
Length: 97 m (318 ft 3 in)[4][5]
Beam: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)[4][5]
Draught: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)[4][5]
Propulsion: Rolls-Royce PWR 2 reactor, MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators
Speed: 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph), submerged[4][5]
Range: Unlimited[6]
Endurance: 90 days[6]
Test depth: Over 300 m (984 ft 3 in)
Complement: 98 (capacity for 109)[4]
Sensors and
processing systems:
Armament:

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 will only carry three months' supply of food for 98 officers and ratings.

Weapons

Audacious will have provision for up-to 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.[13] The submarine will be capable of using Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres)[14] and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

History

Long lead items for her construction were ordered on 28 August 2006[15] although the actual order was not placed until 21 May 2007.[16] Launch was expected in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the submarine was due to leave the yard in 2017.[17] She was eventually formally named on 16 December 2016,[2] and floated out on 28 April 2017, and was due to leave in 2018 for sea trials.[10] The original budget was £1,279m but by 2015 this had risen to £1,492m.[1]

The submarine and its crew have formally forged links with the City of Leeds (which had previously had an association with HMS Ark Royal) by meeting the people at Elland Road in the city and marching in the Armistice Day parade in November 2016.[18]

Audacious completed her first dive at Devonshire Dock over two days in January 2018.[19][20] She eventually sailed from Barrow on 4 April 2020, and commenced sea trials on 6 April 2020.[21]

References
  1. "Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2015 and the Equipment Plan 2015 to 2025" (pdf). National Audit Office. 22 October 2015. p. 43.
  2. "Fourth Astute class submarine formally named" (Press release). Ministry of Defence. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  3. "House of Commons Written Answers c45W". UK Parliament. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  4. Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. pp. 10–11. ISBN 1904459552.
  5. "Astute-class attack submarines". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. "BAE Systems - Astute class submarines". baesystems.com. BAE Systems. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  7. "UK's most powerful submarine joins the Navy". Ministry of Defence. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  8. BAE Systems News, 10 December 2012
  9. "BAE Systems launches Audacious - the fourth state-of-the-art Astute submarine" (Press release). BAE Systems. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  10. "Fourth new Astute-class submarine Audacious launched at Barrow-in-Furness" (Press release). Royal Navy. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  11. "ASTUTE CLASS SUBMARINES BOAT 4 ACCOUNTING OFFICER ASSESSMENT" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/. UK Parliament. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019. The Operational handover for AUDACIOUS is now planned for January 2021.
  12. "Ministry of Defence Astute Class Submarines". parliament.uk. UK Hansard. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020. HMS AUDACIOUS was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 3 April 2020
  13. "Alien submarine breaks technical barriers". BBC News. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  14. "United States Navy Fact File: Tomahawk Land Attack Missile". navy.mil. US Navy. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  15. "New nuclear sub is lifeline for Barrow". BBC News Online. 28 August 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2007.
  16. "Royal Navy to Get New Attack Submarine". Royal Navy. 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2007.
  17. Andrew Chuter (14 August 2015). "UK's 3rd Astute-class Sub Begins Sea Trials". Defensenews.com. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  18. Gray, Mike, ed. (January 2017). "Audacious goes to Elland Road". Navy News. No. 750. Portsmouth: Royal Navy. p. 5. ISSN 0028-1670.
  19. BAE Systems (15 January 2018). "Fourth Astute class submarine completes first dive". BAE Systems. The trim and basin dive took place over two days in Devonshire Dock, at the Company's site in Barrow-in-Furness last week.
  20. Adamczyk, Ed (17 January 2018). "British submarine HMS Audacious completes first dive". UPI. The Royal Navy's fourth Astute-class attack submarine was completely submerged for the first time at the company's Barrow, England, facility, and many of the 318-feet long vessel's onboard systems were successfully tested.
  21. "Residents urged to abide by lockdown rules as sub leaves Barrow". The Mail. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
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