THE ROYAL Navy’s latest billion pound nuclear submarine edges out of dry dock as it prepares to take to the water for the first time.

HMS Audacious carries Tomahawk missiles capable of hitting targets 745 miles away with pinpoint accuracy.

9 The imposing nuclear sub HMS Audacious makes its first journey out of the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria Credit: PA:Press Association

9 The 318 ft long attack sub carries Tomahawk missiles capable of hitting targets 745 miles away with pinpoint accuracy Credit: PA:Press Association

9 The cutting-edge craft, which will be lowered into water for the first time today, can circumnavigate the entire globe without surfacing Credit: PA:Press Association

The 318 ft long attack sub can circumnavigate the entire globe without surfacing.

And unlike traditional submarines it is not fitted with periscopes. Images are instead delivered to the Control Room via fibre-optic cables.

The 7,400-tonne BAE Systems-built vessel is the fourth of seven Astute class submarines and is also armed with Spearfish torpedoes.

It left the giant Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria yesterday ahead of its floating out ceremony today.

A spokesperson for manufacturers BAE Systems explained: “First she will go in the water for the first time, then she will take her first dive. The Royal Navy will take her on some trials and will decide where she will be moved to or stationed next.”

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“The next big milestone will be when she leaves Barrow which we expect will be in around a year.”

More than 39,000 acoustic tiles mask the vessel's sonar signature, meaning she slips through the seas with less noise than a baby dolphin.

Yet her sonar is said to be so powerful it can detect ships leaving harbour in New York City from a listening point below the waters of the English Channel, 3,000 nautical miles away.

It comes amid claims a crisis looms over the entire project because of delays in the construction of a dry dock to repair the fleet.

9 Unlike tradition subs it is not fitted with periscopes. Images are instead delivered to the Control Room via fibre-optic cables Credit: PA:Press Association

9 The 7,400-tonne BAE Systems-built vessel is the fourth of seven Astute class submarines and is also armed with Spearfish torpedoes Credit: PA:Press Association

9 More than 39,000 acoustic tiles mask the vessel’s sonar signature, meaning she slips through the seas with less noise than a baby dolphin Credit: PA:Press Association

The Sunday Times claimed the Navy's ability to deploy the submarines is at risk because of delays in the building of a dry dock to deal with significant repairs.

Construction of the dock, earmarked for Devonport naval base in Plymouth, is estimated to cost £1bn but is at least a year overdue, according to insiders.

The first submarine in the class, HMS Astute, which launched in 2010, is due for an overhaul early next decade.

HMS Ambush, another Astute, crashed last July and is being repaired in the water at Gibraltar.

9 The sonar HMS Audacious is equipped with is so powerful it can detect ships leaving harbour in New York from the English Channel, 3,000 nautical miles away Credit: BAE SYSTEMS

9 There are claims a crisis looms over the project over delays in dry dock contruction Credit: PA:Press Association

9 The giant craft dwarfs engineers who surround it before it takes to the waters today Credit: PA:Press Association

The Ministry of Defence said: "There is no delay. We continue to explore options for future submarine docking requirements at Devonport.

“No decisions have been taken and the Royal Navy's ability to deploy Astute class submarines remains unaffected."

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