A history of HMS Astute

l THE UK’s newest submarine has had a difficult few years since being launched by the Duchess of Cornwall in Barrow in 2007.

It was described as one of the most advanced in the world, but the £1.2bn vessel hit the headlines on 22 October last year when it ran aground off the coast of Skye and ended up marooned for several hours until the tide eventually freed it.

l It was also damaged in a collision with the coastguard tug the Anglian Prince, below, which was sent to assist.

l The submarine returned to base at Faslane, on Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute three days after the incident for repairs, which the Royal Navy claimed were minor, although experts at the time warned that the bill for the work could run into millions of pounds.

l A few months later during tests it was forced to head back to Faslane, after suffering what Ministry of Defence officials described as a “minor defect”.

l The error off the coast of Skye led to the submarine’s commander, Andy Coles, being transferred to another post and replaced by Commander Iain Breckenridge.

Commander Breckenridge was on board in April when Able Seaman Ryan Donovan ran amok, killing one senior officer and shooting another.