HMS Astute departs Plymouth after secret emergency repairs

Britain’s billion pound nuclear submarine has departed Plymouth after 23 days of secret emergency repairs at Devonport Dockyard.

HMS Astute arrived in Plymouth in March following an unexpected diversion and disarmament in Gibraltar.

Specialist engineers from Rolls-Royce were seen working on HMS Astute inside Devonport throughout her stay, according to verified defence insiders.

HMS Astute was under tight security while leaving Plymouth. **© Plymouth Plus**

HMS Astute is among the most advanced attack submarines in the Royal Navy, capable of launching long-range Tomahawk missiles and operating covertly for extended periods.

The submarine’s unexpected withdrawal from active service came after a broader schedule of maintenance and upgrades across the Royal Navy’s nuclear fleet, including HMS Audacious, which remains in dry dock at Devonport.

Crew standing on HMS Astute while it departed Plymouth. **© Plymouth Plus**

As Astute resumes operational readiness, attention turns once again to the critical importance of ongoing investment in sustaining the UK’s naval capabilities.

Read our coverage of HMS Astute’s arrival into Plymouth below: