Royal Navy submariners assigned to the Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered submarine HMS Trenchant started preparing for operations as the submarine is nearing the end of her refit.
The Plymouth-based boat is alongside in Devonport Naval Base while her engineers are busy finishing the final stages of her maintenance period.
For three weeks the submarine’s command team have been hard at work in the ‘Talisman’ submarine control room simulator in Devonport – and have passed their tactical simulation training, allowing them to fire training torpedoes at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre during their work-up later this year.
Commander Rob Watts, the commanding officer of HMS Trenchant said: “ This is an important step in achieving full operational capability. The team have performed well and look forward to demonstrating their skills with live weapons later this year.”
The realistic training ensures the crew are safe to operate the Tomahawk land attack missile weapon system and can effectively use the Spearfish torpedo against surface and sub-surface targets.
Tough training in the simulator tested the crew’s ability to operate in busy inshore shipping areas with large merchant vessels, small fishing vessels, high speed ferries, warships, submarines and military aircraft. The team successfully pulled together to remain safe, minimise risk of counter-detection and achieve their operational aim.
The reward of all this hard work led to the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation designating the submariners safe in all respects in their final assessment.
The next stage in training is embarking the torpedoes and missiles to demonstrate this vital capability at sea before HMS Trenchant is welcomed back to the Royal Navy fleet as a fully operational submarine.