Nuclear submarine joins Royal Navy fleet

The "world's most advanced" nuclear submarine has officially joined the Royal Navy fleet.

The 7,400-tonne HMS Artful was commissioned in a ceremony at Faslane naval base on the Clyde attend by the submarine's 150 crew, their families and senior Navy officials.

Built at BAE Systems' shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, it moved to HM Naval Base Clyde in 2015 to undergo sea trials off the west coast of Scotland.

It is the third Astute-class attack submarine to join the fleet following HMS Astute and HMS Ambush, said to be the most powerful ever operated by the force.

Commodore Mike Walliker, commander of the Faslane flotilla, said:

Armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, HMS Artful will be able to strike targets up to 1,200 miles from the coast while stealth technology allows it to remain undetected despite being 50% larger than the Trafalgar-class subs.

Commander Stuart Armstrong, captain of HMS Artful, said:

Despite being the most advanced sub to join the fleet, space inside remains as limited as traditional Navy boats.

Warrant officer Russell Garner said:

HMS Astute and Ambush have already completed deployments in the Mediterranean and Middle East.

The Navy said the submarines have been involved in anti-smuggling operations and provided Tomahawk Land Attack Missile capability in support of anti-terrorism operations in the region.

All seven of the Navy's Astute-class vessels will eventually be based on the Clyde.

The next two submarines in the class, Audacious and Anson, are currently being built in Barrow, with Agamemnon and the as yet unnamed seventh sub to follow.