The Ministry of Defence has unusually confirmed the movement of an armed Royal Navy hunter-killer submarine, posting imagery of the vessel departing Gibraltar in what appears to be a deliberate act of strategic signalling.
The MOD said the submarine was leaving the British Overseas Territory while “armed”, adding that the Royal Navy maintains a continuous presence at sea to deter adversaries and protect both the UK and NATO allies. Public confirmation of submarine movements is extremely rare, with the UK traditionally maintaining strict operational silence around the location and activity of its nuclear-powered attack boats.
Spotted: An armed UK Hunter Killer submarine leaving Gibraltar.
The @RoyalNavy ensures their presence at sea at all times to deter potential adversaries and protect the nation and @NATO allies. pic.twitter.com/XSi6w7kXpB
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 27, 2026
The submarine involved is understood to be HMS Anson, an Astute-class attack submarine which arrived in Gibraltar last week after sailing from HM Naval Base Clyde on 10 January. Gibraltar has long served as a logistics and support hub for Royal Navy submarines transiting between the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
The decision to publicly acknowledge the deployment stands out given the UK’s long-held policy of ambiguity surrounding submarine operations. Defence officials almost never comment on whether submarines are armed, where they are operating, or when they are entering or leaving ports, making the statement notable in the current security climate. The sighting also comes amid preparations for the UK’s first deployment under Submarine Rotational Force–West, part of the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the United States. It was confirmed last year that a Royal Navy Astute-class submarine will rotate through HMAS Stirling near Perth during 2026.
In December, Defence Minister Luke Pollard described the deployment as “a core planning assumption for the Royal Navy under AUKUS”, stating that the government judged the commitment to be “both realistic and manageable within existing force planning”. The rotational presence is intended to support Australia’s transition to operating nuclear-powered submarines by building experience in maintenance, safety and operational procedures, alongside US Navy Virginia-class boats also assigned to the force.
The move has previously attracted scrutiny in Parliament, with MPs raising concerns over pressure on the UK’s attack submarine fleet at a time of heightened Russian activity in the North Atlantic. Ministers have nonetheless insisted that the AUKUS deployment remains central to the programme’s success and that participation will deliver operational and training benefits that feed back into the UK’s own submarine enterprise.
Assume this is the boat going to Aus? Or not?
If so, would Anson be our ‘persistent presence’ in the Pacific rather than Tamar and/or Spey?
Hope not. As Defence Engagement is important.
A Frigate would be better, but we know what’s happened to them under successive governments.
Firstly, would be a bit wank if it was unarmed while on patrol, secondly she is off to Australia methinks and thirdly it’s a sign of desperation by the MOD to signal to all and sundry we if we have one boat sailing to down under we therefore must have another also on patrol protecting the at sea deterrent boats. Possibly a bit of a bluff from the MOD as more than likely we have nothing else out of dock!
I did read this is the only operational SSN at this time.
Priorities mate. Apparently it isn’t Russia.
I’m just going to C/V the latest MoD social media post of HMS Anson leaving Gibraltar.
‘Spotted: An armed UK Hunter Killer submarine leaving Gibraltar.
The Royal Navy ensures their presence at sea at all times to deter potential adversaries and protect the nation and NATO allies.’
What do they mean, ‘at all time’? Seems a little off, from what I remember about the deployability of the submarine fleet.
It’s hardly unusual that it’s a load of cobblers. Indeed, by my cynicism ( sorry ) it seems to be the norm, not the exception.
I recall NL stating that no SSN were active.
Good to see the Astutes getting back to sea.
This *has* to mean that another Astute is either already in the Northern Atlantic, or very nearly nearing readiness to be in the Atlanic, right? Right?!
I’d thought we might be getting another back to sea in the next 6 months at the earliest given the sketchy knowledge of their maintenance rotations. But if not, it seems really rather odd given the briefings to the press about Ruskies slipping through the nets and such.
Good to see Anson back at it though, what a dream deployment for her crew!
I’m afraid it doesn’t have to mean anything under the current incarnation of the RN. They went without an SSN at sea for three months recently, I don’t think they’re that inclined to solve the issue.
So our one available submarine has been seen. Amazing.