The only operational UK nuclear sub HMS Anson arrives at Garden Island following delay due to channel swim

One of the United Kingdom’s only operationally available nuclear submarines has docked at Perth’s HMAS Stirling naval base following a slight delay caused by the annual Rottnest channel swim, which was subsequently cancelled.

HMS Anson, an Astute-class boat which was commissioned into service in 2022, will stay in Western Australia for a month-long visit that includes maintenance activity involving the local workforce.

Around 130 Royal Navy submariners are on board the attack submarine as well as two Royal Australian Navy personnel who are embedded as part of the crew to experience operations on the nuclear-powered boat.

The Royal Australian Navy will also conduct tests of its Speartooth large underwater drone to see how it operates with the British submarine at sea, as part of AUKUS pillar 2 activities.

“This submarine maintenance period, known as SMP, sends a simple message of our water-tight commitment to AUKUS; solid and unwavering,” Deputy British High Commissioner Dr Brian Jones declared ahead of HMS Anson’s arrival.

“It’s a top priority for the UK Government and sits at the heart of our vision for global stability and prosperity.”

Speaking at HMAS Stirling on Sunday morning, the Director General of the Australian Submarine Agency, Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead, said the visit marked a significant milestone for local industry.

“This visit is historic because it is the first time that Australia has ever undertaken maintenance on a UK nuclear powered submarine,” Vice Admiral Mead said.

“This maintenance activity over a number of weeks, will constitute a UK, a US, an Australian workforce and an industry chain from all three countries, and that is what AUKUS is all about.”

The maintenance will involve cleaning ballast tanks and calibrating valves, as well as addressing any issues arising from the long transit from the UK.

Vice Admiral Mead noted that while the visit had been months in the planning, the joint workforce was prepared to be agile.

“We’ll have people on the submarine this afternoon to get a full lay down of what needs to be done and what priority order,” he said.

Defence Minister Richard Marles described the UK submarine’s arrival as a “historic step” in Australia’s push to operate and maintain its own nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS arrangement.

“Australia, the UK and the US will work together over the coming weeks on the maintenance of HMS Anson – developing our skills, systems and infrastructure as we prepare for Submarine Rotational Force–West to begin next year,” he said.

Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the UK Special Representative for AUKUS, said the three nations were “full steam ahead” on the project to maintain a strategic advantage in the underwater domain.

“The arrival of HMS Anson... is a demonstration that the UK can and the UK will deploy our most powerful military assets across the globe,” Sir Stephen said.

“It’s here to ensure that SRF-West is ready to host US and UK rotational deployments from 2027.”

Admiral William Houston, Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, described the Astute-class boats as the “apex predators of the ocean” and praised the rapid transformation of the submarine base at the Garden Island facility.

“When I came here 18 months ago, it was nothing but dirt, and they’ve added these buildings. You have buildings there. You have buildings going up everywhere. The activity here is highly impressive,” Admiral Houston said.

A handful of anti-AUKUS protestors gathered outside the gates of HMAS Stirling on Sunday, holding signs and chanting in opposition to the tri-country partnership.

The Astute-class submarine’s arrival was delayed by up to two days because of infrastructure put in place for the annual Rottnest Channel swim, which was then cancelled by organisers due to poor weather.

According to British media reports, HMS Anson is currently the only available attack submarine for the Royal Navy and her deployment to WA comes at a time of heightened military tensions in the Atlantic.

Last October America’s nuclear-powered USS Vermont, a Virginia-class boat which had 13 Royal Australian Navy personnel serving on board, arrived at HMAS Stirling for a scheduled Submarine Maintenance Period.

Under the first formal stage of the AUKUS partnership, British and US boats will be temporarily stationed at HMAS Stirling from 2027 as part of Submarine Rotational Force-West, to improve Australia’s understanding of the advanced technology.

Vice Admiral Mead confirmed the rotational force would see a steady increase in presence, with one boat arriving in 2027, followed by a second in 2028, a third in 2029, and a fourth in 2030.