The Royal Navy's nuclear-powered submarine HMS Anson, armed with Tomahawk missiles, has arrived in the northern Arabian Sea, enabling it to respond quickly to threats, including from Iran.
This is reported by the Daily Mail, citing sources.
According to the sources, HMS Anson left the port in Perth on March 6 and has already taken up designated positions. The submarine is armed with Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles and heavy Spearfish torpedoes, which allows it to strike at long distances. In the event of an escalation of the conflict, the UK will have the opportunity to quickly respond to threats, in particular from Iran.
“Anson will be quietly hidden. The Prime Minister and the Commander of Naval Operations will be informed of her whereabouts, and of course the Submarine Service, but her whereabouts will not be widely known,” the source said.
The British Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the location of HMS Anson, saying it would not disclose details of current operations and deployments.
According to media reports, HMS Anson rises closer to the surface every day to communicate with the command at the PJHQ headquarters in Northwood (London). In the event of a decision to attack, the order to open fire can be given by the head of joint operations after approval by the Prime Minister.
This comes against the backdrop of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to allow the US to use British bases to strike Iranian targets, in particular to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz area.