Increasingly Tense: British Nuclear Submarine Spotted in the Arabian Sea
HMS Anson, a nuclear-powered submarine of the British Royal Navy, has arrived in the Arabian Sea. The vessel moved into position in the northern Arabian Sea after departing from the port in Perth on 6 March.
This submarine is capable of launching cruise missile strikes, equipped with land-attack Tomahawk Block IV missiles with a range of 1,000 miles and Spearfish torpedoes.
“This means British forces will have the capability to launch strikes against Iran if the conflict escalates,” according to a Daily Mail report on Monday (23/3/2026).
The movement of HMS Anson follows Downing Street’s statement on Friday that Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to allow the US to use British military bases in the Middle East to launch strikes on Iranian sites that have blockaded the Strait of Hormuz.
Previously, Sir Keir had only permitted US forces to use those bases for defensive operations to prevent Iran from firing missiles that endanger British interests or lives.
However, he has now approved an expansion of targets to help protect ships in shipping lanes based on the principle of collective self-defence.
HMS Anson, which has travelled 5,500 miles from the west coast of Australia, surfaces just below the surface every 24 hours to enable it to communicate with the British military bunker at the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) in Northwood, London.
Defence sources say that at PJHQ, Lieutenant General Nick Perry, head of joint operations, will issue firing orders if authorised by the Prime Minister. If the strike point is confirmed, HMS Anson will rise close to the surface and launch a salvo of four missiles.
The advanced submarine, based in Faslane, Scotland, does not have a standard periscope. Instead, it displays a surface view on a very large screen.
With its nuclear reactor ownership, the submarine does not need to refuel for 25 years of its operational life, equipped with its ability to purify water and air. The submarine can circumnavigate the globe without needing to surface.
However, this is limited by the fact that the vessel can only carry food supplies for three months for its 98 officers and crew.
A Daily Mail source said, “HMS Anson will hide silently. The Prime Minister and Maritime Operations Commander will be informed of its presence, including the Submarine Service, but its location will not be widely known.”
That source also stated, “The Navy can quickly place the submarine at its target location and can leave it there for weeks.”
The Ministry of Defence declined to comment on news regarding the location and movement of HMS Anson.
A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence said: “We will not provide details on current operations or specific deployments. We continue to monitor our capabilities in this region regularly.”