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Artful grateful as submarine’s sponsor drops in to recognise crew
26 September 2025
Crew of hunter-killer submarine HMS Artful welcomed the boat’s sponsor when she dropped in on its home base of Faslane.
Artful – known by her crew as the Fighting Monkey thanks to the cheeky creature on the boat’s crest – has been sponsored by Lady Zambellas since the boat was launched at Barrow in 2014.
Though she receives regular updates on the activities both of the Astute-class boat (the third of six under the White Ensign), opportunities to visit are few and far between.
So Commander Aaron Williams and his crew rolled out the red carpet for their sponsor: a ride around Gareloch to see the naval base and environs from the water via P2000 HMS Tracker, lunch, and then a tour of Artful herself.
Thereafter Lady Amanda – who’s the wife of former First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas, head of the RN between 2013 and 2016 (and currently Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle) – addressed crew and presented awards.
Petty Officer Medical Assistant Sean ‘Dusty’ Millar was recognised with a Hebert Lott Efficiency Award for his exhaustive work in supporting Exercise Laesa Nautae – Latin for injured sailors.
Which was apt because the exercise allowed medics across defence to develop the skills required to deal with extricating casualties from a submarine. It resulted in numerous lessons learned (and introduced into practice) thanks in no small part to Dusty’s coordination and planning.
WO2 Colin Stewart was awarded his Warrant Scroll – among the first signed by the Defence Secretary John Healey – after 23 years’ service, including more than one stint on Artful.
The final honour awarded by Lady Amanda was the commissioning scroll for Lt Devine, Artful’s logistics officer.
He earned his commission in 2022 – shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II - but had to wait for his commission to be formally signed by His Majesty to King… which is a welcome relief to his shipmates as he can now stop dripping about it and focus on counting snorkers instead.