HMS Astute returned home on Thursday, March 1 after a 142 day deployment to America. It was also a voyage of discovery. HMS Astute was tried and tested as never before ñ and she came through with flying colours. She spent 77 days at sea, 65 alongside, and was inspected by 18 stars worth of American and British naval authority including the First Sea Lord and Americaís naval equivalent, the Chief of Naval Operations. She 'battled' against USS New Mexico, America's newest and best Virginia class hunter attack submarine. She deep dived, fired her Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and navigated through a course of 16,400 miles.