Submarines
Posted: 11th November 2024
Submarines
After months of maintenance and readiness challenges, the Royal Navy’s attack submarine fleet is back on course with a notable increase in activity, reflecting hard work behind the scenes to get boats to sea. Currently, the Astute-class HMS Anson and the Trafalgar-class HMS Triumph are both at sea, following HMS Astute’s recent return to Faslane after completing Exercise Strike Warrior. This renewed presence is a promising sign of the Royal Navy’s commitment to improving submarine availability and addressing prior maintenance backlogs. Earlier this year, the Royal Navy faced prolonged periods without any of its nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) at sea, underscoring the impact of maintenance delays and a stretched fleet. HMS Astute’s recent deployment and HMS Triumph’s return to sea reflect a marked improvement, demonstrating progress in fleet readiness. With HMS Anson now at sea, the Royal Navy is fielding one of its most advanced submarines in the world. Meanwhile, HMS Triumph, the last active Trafalgar-class submarine, complements the numbers showing the fleet’s ability to sustain a balanced operational presence even as older vessels near the end of their service. In recent years, the Royal Navy has started to prioritise significant upgrades to its submarine maintenance infrastructure, undertaking projects aimed at enhancing the operational availability of both the Vanguard and Astute-class submarines. Improvements such as the £200 million refurbishment of Number 9 dry dock at Devonport highlight the Royal Navy’s response to infrastructure bottlenecks that have previously hit fleet readiness. This upgraded facility now allows for more efficient deep maintenance on nuclear-powered submarines, helping reduce downtime and meet pressing operational demands.
UK Defence Journal 8th Nov 2024