Name HMS Audacious Cost £1,492m (budget) Sponsored by Lady Elizabeth Jones Length 97 m Draft 10 m | Ordered May 2007 Laid down 24 March 2009 Christened 16 December 2016 Construction started 24 March 2009 Endurance 3 months | |
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Builder BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines | ||
HMS Audacious is the fourth Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy. Several previous vessels of the Royal Navy have borne the name. She was formally named on 16 December 2016 and is due to be launched in 2017.
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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. The submarine will be capable of using Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.
History
Long lead items for her construction were ordered on 28 August 2006 although the actual order was not placed until 21 May 2007. Launch was expected in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the submarine was due to leave the yard in 2017. She was eventually formally named on 16 December 2016 and is now due to be launched in 2017. The original budget was £1,279m but by 2015 this had risen to £1,492m.
The submarine and its crew have formally forged links with the City of Leeds (which had previously had an association with various Ark Royal ships) by meeting the people at Elland Road in the city and marching in the Armistice Day parade in November 2016.