A CLUTCH of Royal Navy vessels will welcome HMS Astute into this world as they head to Barrow-in-Furness for the submarine’s launch.

Astute – the RN’s first hunter-killer submarine in a generation – will be rolled out of the shed at BAE System’s Barrow yard from 10am tomorrow while the town itself revels in a four-day maritime festival.

Dispatched to take part in the festival to fly the flag for the Senior Service are frigate HMS Lancaster, Falklands veteran destroyer HMS Exeter, plus patrol boats HMS Charger (associated with Liverpool’s universities) and HMS Biter (associated with Manchester and Salford universities).

All four vessels will be berthed at either Town Quay or Buccleuch Dock from today, with Biter and Charger open to the public tomorrow between mid-day and 4pm, and Lancaster and Exeter throwing open their gangways between the same hours on Saturday and Sunday. Entry is free.

Lancaster will make use of the visit to Barrow to enjoy her freedom of her namesake city (the ship cannot sail up the River Lune into Lancaster itself as she’s too big).

The ship’s company will be parading through the Lancastrian county town on Monday, while affiliated schools will be hosted for visits aboard the frigate.