The Royal Navy’s fourth Astute-class submarine, Audacious, completed her first ever dive last week, shipbuilder BAE Systems announced.
BAE Systems also shared a video of the trim and basin dive which took place over two days in Devonshire Dock, at the company’s site in Barrow-in-Furness .
The operation, which saw Audacious submerge fully under water for the first time, tested many of her on-board systems, and proved the safety and stability of the 7,400-tonne, 97 metre-long attack submarine.
Employees from BAE Systems worked alongside Audacious’ crew, including its commanding officer, Captain Scott Bower, to complete the test.
Officially named in December 2016 and launched in April last year, Audacious is scheduled to leave Barrow for sea trials later this year.
HMS Astute, HMS Artful and HMS Ambush are already in-service with the Royal Navy. Boats 5 and 6, Anson and Agamemnon, along with a seventh, as yet unnamed, Astute-class submarine are in different stages of construction at the Barrow site.