Australian naval technicians have manufactured and installed critical components for the United Kingdom’s HMS Anson during the submarine’s maintenance period at HMAS Stirling, marking a practical step forward in integrating Australian industry into the AUKUS submarine enterprise.

Showing the power of AUKUS in action, Australian-made parts were fitted by Australian and United States Navy divers to the British submarine.

The seawater strainers, which are protective filtration units fitted to a submarine’s seawater intakes, were designed, fabricated and quality‑assured in Western Australia ahead of Anson’s arrival by Fleet Support Unit – West (FSU‑W) personnel.

Australia’s Sovereign Submarine Partner, ASC Pty Ltd, supported FSU‑W with material cutting and fabrication for the strainers, highlighting Australian industry's growing role in the nuclear‑powered submarine enterprise.

Because the components sit below the waterline, installation required careful underwater handling and detailed alignment checks. And, if you look closely, the fabrication work undertaken by FSU-W technicians carried a distinctly local mark. 

Warrant Officer Scott Rodgers, marine technician and deputy marine engineer at FSU-W, said that when his team are turning out, whether it’s a seawater strainer or a boat that’s come in for maintenance, they stamp it with ‘Product of FSU-W’.

“We like to put our mark on it – it shows the fleet that FSU does meaningful work and that we contribute directly to maintaining capability,” Warrant Officer Rodgers said.

“It gives the team a sense of achievement to say, ‘I made this’, and to see that item still on a ship five or 10 years later.

“It’s also about taking pride in what we do every day and getting our name and branding out to the fleet.”

'This is the most exciting work I’ve seen in 27 years in Navy.'

The manufacturing process commenced with designs from the United Kingdom, the required welding and corrosion‑resistant metalwork, and strict dimensions to ensure compatibility with an Astute‑class submarine’s intake housings. 

Once completed, the strainers were fitted to Anson by a joint diving team drawn from the Royal Australian Navy and United States Navy, working alongside United Kingdom engineers. 

The fitting of the strainers activity forms part of the wider maintenance package being conducted while Anson is alongside Stirling – the first-ever maintenance activity on a United Kingdom nuclear‑powered submarine in Australia.

Warrant Officer Rodgers said that producing these components provided his team with hands‑on experience supporting an Astute‑class platform ahead of Submarine Rotational Force – West commencing in 2027.

“We’re starting to get involved in SSN [nuclear-powered submarine] maintenance, and that’s where the future is,” he said.

“We’ve invested heavily in upskilling our people, so we can take on more work and become more involved with our industry partners as SSN sustainment grows.

“I wanted to be part of it from the ground floor, developing the capability so our sailors and the next generation can support the nuclear-powered submarine program.

“This is the most exciting work I’ve seen in 27 years in Navy.”