HMS Astute (S119)

History of HMS Astute (S119)

HMS Astute (S119) is the lead ship of the new "Astute-class" nuclear submarine in service with the Royal Navy. The type was developed to replace the aging Trafalgar class, which at the time of writing (2012) appeared on seven ships in continuous service.

HMS Astute has since surpassed the Trafalgar-class submarine as the UK's most powerful and advanced nuclear attack submarine, providing the Royal Navy with a deadly "weapon" around the world. The type is marketed as an efficient and deadly submarine that uses the latest noise reduction and threat detection technology.

HMS Astute is a missile-equipped vessel capable of countering surface and underwater threats as well as land-based inland targets.

HMS Astute ordered March 1997 and laid on January 31, 2001. She was launched from BAE Systems' Submarine Solutions facility at Barrow-in-Furness on 8 June 2007 and officially entered service on 27 August 2010 as flag S119. Her home port is HM Naval Base Clyde. Sea trials began in 2010 and included testing of various key detection, tracking and intervention facilities, as well as weapon launches. Overall, the vessel is 323 feet long, 37 feet wide and has a draft of 33 feet.

Along the surface, the Astute displaces 7,700 tons and transports 8,140 tons underwater. Her typical operating staff consists of 98 sailors and officers, with a maximum capacity of 109 personnel (visitors, guests and special forces).

While the HMS Astute is given a fairly traditional submarine-like interior and exterior layout, the overall design exhibits a variety of subtle features that quickly identify the thoroughly modern type. The smooth, curved edges of traditional submarines seen during the Cold War are mostly absent and are now replaced by sharp edges and board sidewalls that run the length of the boat. The sail is usually located on the dorsal ridge aft of the nose cone and slightly forward amidships.

The sails are fitted with all the masts and antennas required to enable Astute to take advantage of satellite technology and specialist systems. One mast will receive thermal imaging equipment, while the other will be equipped with low-light cameras that effectively replace conventional submarines. The bow has a distinctive conical shape with six forward torpedo tubes, all mounted below the waterline.

The dive rating is marked on the upper edge of both sides of the bow. The stern is covered by a large propeller system connected to the internal propulsion mechanism. There are a pair of vertical stabilizers and a pair of horizontal stabilizers for maneuvering.

HMS Astute is an attack submarine through and through. Although the submarine does not have the deck guns of its WWII counterparts, it adds to its offensive lethality by deploying Raytheon BGM-109 Tomahawk (Block IV) cruise missiles and wire-guided/active-passive sonar-guided BAE Spearfish torpedoes. The Tomahawk is a devastating and battle-hardened cruise missile capable of accurately hitting land-based targets up to 1,200 miles away.

This allows the ship to attack inland targets from a relatively safe range, surfacing from deep to below the surface, firing missiles and diving again to avoid detection. Spearfish torpedoes are used for covert attacks on enemy surface ships and submarines. The torpedoes are rear-mounted in the lower tier of the bow, while active torpedoes are fired from one of six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes located in the lower bow.

Typically carries a mix of 38 torpedoes and cruise missiles.

Another quality of a powerful attack submarine is its defensive capabilities. The Astute is suitably equipped with a sonar detection system at the bow, sides and stern of the design. The towed sonar array can also be dropped from the stern. Sensor and processing systems include Thales sonar 2076 series, Atlas DESO 25 series sonar and Thor's follow-up IFF system.

The airborne radar system can detect large surface ships up to 3,000 miles away.

To keep her crew of 98 regularly fed, HMS Astute relies on five dedicated chefs on duty around the clock in a fully equipped kitchen. Grocery stores are allowed to operate at sea for up to three months before needing to restock on typical trips (patrols) lasting about 10 weeks. An integrated water and air handling unit provides fresh water and air to the crew. Creature comforts include beds for each crew member, and 11 overflow crew units that can be used as needed.

There are five full showers for general hygiene and five toilets - also known as "heads" in naval parlance, a necessity at sea.

Power is provided by a Rolls-Royce PWR2 series nuclear reactor embedded in the rear half of the boat. There is also an MTU 600kW diesel generator for additional power. With proper maintenance and safety precautions, the nuclear system is expected to have a useful lifespan of more than 25 years, allowing HMS Astute to have a largely unrestricted range on its voyages - subject to constant food supplies and general fatigue among the crew. Top speeds are reported to be in excess of 25 knots, and the 24-hour journey can cover about 500 miles in total. The propulsion system also features specially designed "ultra-quiet" propellers that wrap around the arc of the blades.

In addition, the hull itself is lined with sound-absorbing rubber sheets (synthetic polymers - "silent tiles") to enhance the ship's "stealth" properties against enemy sonar. The thickness of the hull can be up to 7 inches at the thickest point, and the maximum diving depth can exceed 500 feet.

Unfortunately, the operation of the very expensive HMS Astute is not without some downsides. The ship reportedly ran aground off the Isle of Skye in October 2010. A tugboat was called to the scene of the accident to rescue the vessel, which caused minor damage.

The captain was subsequently relieved of command. In another incident - albeit noticeably darker - a sailor from HMS Astute opened fire on the ship, murdering his chief engineer.

The gunman was immediately arrested, disarmed and handed over to the authorities, where the judiciary sentenced him to life imprisonment.

However, none of this should detract from the good quality inherent in the Astute design itself. As one of the new nuclear submarines in service around the world, the ship maintains a strong presence on the high seas and is ready to respond to royal needs. While the era of Western nuclear-armed ballistic submarines is largely a thing of the past, that doesn't diminish the conventional firepower a vessel like the HMS Astute can withstand.

Combine this with the advantages of the latest technology available to combatants, and HMS Astute should deliver decades of faithful service.

The Astute class submarine consists of seven ships, commanded by HMS Astute (S119) himself. This class includes her sister ships: HMS Ambush (S120), HMS Artful (S121), HMS Audacious (S122), HMS Anson (S123), HMS Agamemnon (S124) and HMS Ajax (S125).

The keel of the HMS Astute was laid exactly 100 years after the keel was laid on HMS Holland 1 (the first Royal Navy submarine).

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