Super-Submarines

Super-Submarines for our Navy

Hunter killer sub Astute arrives at her home port

The previous page was: "Robots Of War"

The biggest and most powerful attack submarine ever built for the Royal Navy 'H.M.S. Astute' today sailed into her home base on the Clyde. Measuring nearly one hundred metres from bow to stern, Astute is longer than ten London buses. When fully loaded, she will displace 7,800 tonnes of sea water, equivalent to 65 blue whales.

The Astute submarine has the latest stealth technology, a world-beating sonar system and is armed with 38 torpedoes and missiles. More than any previous Royal Navy submarine.

She will be able to circumnavigate the globe while submerged, and advanced nuclear technology means that she will never need to be refuelled.

H.M.S. Astute will be followed in due course by her sister submarines 'H.M.S. Ambush' 'H.M.S. Artful' and 'H.M.S. Audacious'. These four comprise the first of the expected seven submarines in the Astute Class.

The Astute class will carry the potent Spearfish Heavyweight torpedo which can destroy submarines or surface ships, and Tomahawk cruise missiles that can hit inland targets with pinpoint accuracy. The boats will have 50 per cent more firepower than the existing Trafalgar class submarines they will succeed in service.

Robots Of War

The Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said

“This is a significant milestone for Astute as she arrives for the first time in her homeport of Faslane.

The Astute class of submarines will deliver a steep change in capability for defence in terms of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, protecting the deterrent, providing land attack and intelligence gathering.

Astute will now begin a set of sea trials ahead of her full acceptance with the Royal Navy next year.”

First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, said

“The Astute Class is truly next generation. They are immensely powerful vessels and they will form a key part of our future programme, giving the Royal Navy the versatility and technical excellence needed to operate successfully across the globe."

“Astute is a joint warfighting asset and I look forward to her entry into service, along with that of her six sisters – which include Ambush, Artful and Audacious.”

Commodore Chris Hockley

The Naval Base Commander said

“I am particularly pleased and excited at the prospect of welcoming Astute to her home Base today. There has been significant investment and preparations made over several years to prepare us for this occasion.

“The Clyde will become a centre of specialisation for submarines, and, of course, submarine training. With the arrival of Astute I cannot think of a more exciting time to be a submariner.”

HMS DAUNTLESS IS DELIVERED

HMS Dauntless - the second of six new formidable air defence warships - was handed over to the Ministry Of Defence at a ceremony in Portsmouth on the 2nd December 2009. HMS Dauntless was launched from BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Glasgow on 23 January 2007. After extensive sea trials she made her first entry into her home port of Portsmouth.

She follows HMS Daring – the Royal Navy’s first Type 45 destroyer – which arrived in Portsmouth in January this year.

BAE Systems, builders of the new fleet of Type 45 destroyers, handed over HMS Dauntless to the Royal Navy’s Deputy Commander-In-Chief Fleet, Vice Admiral Richard Ibbotson.

During a ceremony on the ship’s flight deck at Portsmouth Naval Base, the BAE company flag was lowered and replaced by the Royal Navy’s White Ensign.

The Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said:

“The six Type 45s will be the largest and most powerful destroyers ever operated by the Royal Navy. With the second of the class now in the hands of the MoD, we are forging ahead to deliver an unparalleled air defence capability to the Royal Navy."

“HMS Dauntless has gone through several stages of sea trials in which she has truly impressed the ship’s company. She will now embark on a final set of sea trials that will really put her to the test before she is commissioned into the Navy in the summer of 2010.”

Vice Admiral Richard Ibbotson

The Royal Navy’s Deputy Commander-In-Chief Fleet, said:

“The Royal Navy is looking forward to Her Majesty’s Ship Dauntless taking her place in the Fleet with much anticipation and congratulates everyone involved in delivering her this far.

HMS Dauntless and her sister ships are world beaters and the people of the Royal Navy are second to none.

This is a winning combination, and the ship provides us with the tools to do the job, whatever the country requires of us, for years to come.

It is therefore with great excitement that we welcome the cutting edge capability that the new T45 destroyer displays.

“With the ability to integrate both land and air forces, HMS Dauntless truly is a joint asset and will carry out a wide range of operations, whilst remaining a highly effective air defence ship. Dauntless is a magnificent feat of engineering.”

Modern-day Pages Fast Boats Pages Joe Wezley Pages

Angus Holt, UK Programmes Director

At BAE Systems’ Surface Ships business, said:

“Today is the culmination of hard work, commitment and a fantastic partnership between BAE Systems, the Royal Navy and our suppliers to produce one of the finest ships in the world.

“Everyone involved in creating this ship should be extremely proud of their achievements. HMS Dauntless truly is a magnificent ship and I am delighted on behalf to hand over to the Royal Navy on behalf of BAE Systems.”

The prime role of the Type 45 destroyer will be air defence – protecting UK national and allied and coalition forces against enemy aircraft and missiles.

The technology onboard the Type 45 will set new standards in air defence, capable of defending the Type 45 and ships in its company from multiple attacks from even the most sophisticated anti-ship missiles and aircraft.

The next Link below will bw: "THE M.O.D."

Super-Submarines THE M.O.D.

"Pirates Trilogy" $20