The Spearfish heavy torpedoes carried by Astute-class attack submarines have a range of 29 nautical miles. Whereas the Mk-50 advanced, lightweight torpedoes carried by Arleigh Burke-class destroyers only have a range of 9.3 nautical miles.
The Spanish sailor captured on the hospital ship says he is with the "De La Fuerza de Guerra Especial" which is the Spanish Navy's Special Naval Warfare Force. It is now the Spanish Navy's single special operations unit, in 2009 The Spanish Marine's Special Operations Unit and the Navy's Special Combat Divers Unit were merged together to form the Special Naval Warfare Force.