HMS Audacious, the fourth of seven Astute-class submarines of the Royal Navy, has arrived at her new home at HM Naval Base Clyde.

The new submarine and her 98-strong crew arrived at the Naval Base in Argyll and Bute on April 7, flying the White Ensign after sailing from BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness.

“It is with great excitement that we welcome HMS Audacious to the Clyde, joining her three sister submarines,” said Commodore Jim Perks OBE, Head of the Submarine Service.

HMS Audacious will join sister-submarines HMS Astute, HMS Ambush and HMS Artful which are already in-service and operating from Faslane. A further three boats – named Anson, Agamemnon and Agincourt – are currently under construction at BAE in Barrow.

HMS Audacious’ crew will now embark on shore training before eventually undertaking the next period of sea trials.

The 97-metre Astute-class vessels are among the most sophisticated submarines ever constructed for the Royal Navy. Equipped with advanced sensors, the Astute-class carry both Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

The 7,400-tonne boats can circumnavigate the globe submerged, producing their own oxygen and drinking water.

Officially named in December 2016, HMS Audacious was launched in April 2017 and conducted her first dive in January 2018.