andrew corbett

UK SUBMARINE IN THEATRE OF WAR According to a report by the @DailyMail the @RoyalNavy Astute Class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) HMS Anson, armed with Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM), is now lurking somewhere in the Arabian Sea. Basing its claim on 'military sources' the report goes into some details on how the boat might operate. It is known, and as previously widely reported by this magazine and others, that Anson was in Australia and then departed some days ago, possibly for the Indian Ocean. Hence, HMS Anson was not involved in a naval review off Sydney this weekend, her previous mission of reinforcing the AUKUS alliance with Australia abandoned. It is surprising that more precise details of Anson's location and alleged arrival - tho' the Arabian Sea is still a big bit of sea to hide in - have been made public at all, via whatever route. The UK Ministry of Defence frequently won't even name submarines sailing into and out of HM Naval Base Clyde. It routinely uses the 'operational secrecy' response to obscure even bland details about Submarine Service operations. The Mail report also cites 'defence sources' but points out that the MoD 'declined to comment'. However, there is no avoiding the fact that a report of Anson in position somewhere off Iran, even if at some considerable distance - and the TLAM Block IV weapon has a substantial range, able to hit targets deep inside Iran if needs be - is major signalling of intent. No other European nation as yet has, as far as we know, committed a submarine to even defensive operations in the Arabian war zone. Meanwhile, UK jet fighters are in skies above the Gulf and other parts of the Middle East defending allied nations, also protecting Cyprus alongside Royal Navy helicopters on air picket and drone interceptor missions. The Daring Class (Type 45) air-defence destroyer HMS Dragon is heading east across the Mediterranean alongside the Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship RFA Lyme Bay while the fleet tanker RFA Tideforce called at Gibraltar recently. European navies have a substantial defensive naval presence in the eastern Med already - most notably the FS Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group (CSG) of the French Navy - and there are European Union-tasked units in the Red Sea escorting shipping. The RN Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond was in 2023/24 engaged in combat operations alongside the @USNavy (USN) in the Red Sea, and a RN frigate was also committed to operations for a period in the same danger zone. Given the once again proven ability of the nuclear-powered attack submarine to sink ships - the USN boat USS Charlotte sank an Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka earlier this month - and the likely heavy use of submarine-launched TLAMs against targets in Iran already, committing a SSN to the region is a significant step for Britain. The Anson has similar capabilities to American SSNs. With the UK Government restricting its forces to a defensive posture - only shooting down drones and such-like so far - HMS Anson is useful for intelligence-gathering, but above all , is a hunter-killer armed with not only TLAM but also heavyweight torpedoes. An interesting question raised by Anson's commitment to operations - and potentially combat ops from off Arabia - is whether or not she retains Australian submariners in her crew. Under AUKUS Royal Australian Navy (RAN) submariners are training in how to operate nuclear-powered submarines. They were reportedly aboard USS Charlotte when she attacked the Iranian frigate. It is no secret that RAN personnel have been included in HMS Anson's complement for some time. Are they still, bearing in mind the Australian government's non-committal stance on the Iran War? •For global naval news, analysis and commentary, including on the Iran War get our magazine, available in shops or direct hard copy sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/subscribe/wars… and also digital pocketmags.com/warships-inter… •For more on the submarines of the Royal Navy, plus other parts of the Fleet, check out our latest 'Guide to the Royal Navy' sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/products… Pictured: in late February HMS Anson prepares to enter the Australian submarine base HMAS Stirling, with Perth in the background. Photo: Royal Navy.

Wondering what the political reaction would be to an IRBM launch against the UK itself… x.com/jamesbosbotini…

EXC: Japan sounds alarm over UK commitment to the GCAP joint fighter jet programme w/ Italy Crucial development work is stalled due to UK MoD’s late Defence Investment Plan, repeatedly delayed since autumn Via @Urbandirt @harrydemps @sylviapfeifer & me as.ft.com/r/5d8beb2b-819…

"Gauthier, who has been trying to get a wheelchair ramp installed at her home for the past five years, testified on Thursday that a caseworker told her that they could give her assisted dying, even offering to supply the MAID equipment for her." ctvnews.ca/politics/artic…