Traditional departure for HMS Astute commander as he is rowed ashore at Devonport naval base

The crew of the attack submarine HMS Astute have pushed the boat out to give their outgoing commander, Commander Chris Bate, a send-off to remember.

The traditional departure ceremony involved rowing Cdr Bate ashore in a Cornish gig – a wooden six-man rowing boat – while other crew members cheered and waved him off.

As he left the boat, the crew gave him a formal salute to mark an end to his 29 months in command.

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During his farewell speech, Cdr Bate thanked crew members for their efforts during his time in command.

"It has been a pleasure to serve as the commanding officer of this great submarine, and I want to thank you all for your dedication and professionalism throughout my time on board," he said.

Over the last two years, HMS Astute has patrolled the Mediterranean and North Atlantic, helped safeguard home waters and supported the opening stages of CSG25 earlier this year.

In July, Cdr Bate also hosted Queen Camilla at a ceremony marking the end of HMS Astute's first commission.

HMS Astute, the first of seven submarines in the Astute class, is the lead submarine in the Royal Navy's fleet of attack submarines.

She has around 100 crew members.

Five of the A-class submarines are currently in service, with HMS Agamemnon due to join the fleet later this year and HMS Achilles in the later stages of construction at Barrow.

They are normally based at Faslane on the Clyde, but HMS Astute is currently at Devonport naval base in Plymouth, where she recently underwent a refit.

Command of HMS Astute now passes to Commander Bob Church from the Royal Navy's submarine support group.  

The Astute class of submarine are the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy.

They combine world-leading sensors, design and weaponry.

They are also the quietest submarines ever built and can circumnavigate the globe completely submerged, with the capacity to produce their own oxygen and drinking water.