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HMS Astute (S119)
Encyclopedia
HMS Astute is a nuclear-powered submarine
in the Royal Navy
, the lead ship
of her class
. Builders BAE Systems describe her as "the largest and most able attack submarine that the Royal Navy has operated, with a performance to rival any in the world".
Built as a successor to the Trafalgar class
, Astute is 50% bigger than the T boats but has a smaller crew. She carries 38 weapons, a mixture of Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. She was commissioned in 2010 and is undergoing extended sea trials and will be handed over to the Royal Navy for operational service in late 2012.
Astute has twice hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in her short career. On 22 October 2010, she ran aground off the west coast of Scotland and her captain was subsequently relieved of his command. On 8 April 2011 a rating shot dead one officer in the control room and injured another whilst the Astute was docked in Southampton. Visiting dignitaries restrained the man and he was subsequently convicted of murder.
to be named for the characteristic of shrewdness and discernment. The first was the World War II
Amphion-class
Astute
. The 7,400-tonne Astutes nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25 year service. Since the submarine can purify water and air, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The main limit is that the submarine will only be able to carry three months' supply of food for 98 crew.
Astute has stowage for 38 weapons and would typically carry both Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk
Block IV cruise missiles, the latter costing £870,000 each. The Tomahawk missiles are capable of hitting a target to within a few metres if the target is within the range of 1,240 miles.
in 1998. The launching of Astute was 43 months behind schedule, and the Astute class were £900 million over budget. The delay was caused primarily by the problems of using 3D CAD; Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said in 2006 that "due to the complexity of the programme, the benefits that CAD was envisaged to provide were more difficult to realise than either MoD or the contractor had assumed." Other issues were the insufficient capabilities within GEC-Marconi which became evident after contract-award, and poor programme management. BAE Systems and the Ministry of Defence reached an agreement in February 2003 whereby they would invest £250 million and £430 million respectively to address the programme's difficulties.
Among the changes to accelerate the project, psychologists were consulted to improve communication and management effectiveness. Murray also reduced manpower requirements by using US construction methods, specifically those of the Electric Boat
company. For example, submarine sections were built vertically so that gravity could assist assembly.
(now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions) on 17 March 1997. She was laid down at BAE's submarine facility in Barrow-in-Furness
on 31 January 2001, 100 years to the day after the keel
was laid down for the Royal Navy's first submarine . Astute was launched on 8 June 2007 by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. The launch attracted more than 10,000 spectators.
Astute left Barrow on 15 November 2009 and on 20 November 2009, arrived at her home port of HMNB Clyde
at Faslane
.
On 16 February 2010 Astute left Faslane for sea trials and dived for the first time on 18 February and was commissioned on 27 August 2010, when she was given her HMS prefix, in a ceremony watched over by her patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
In late 2011 will spend 5 months at the US Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center in the Bahamas and will be handed over to the Royal Navy for operational service in late 2012.
confirmed that Astute had "run into difficulties" off the Isle of Skye
while on trials after eye-witnesses reported the submarine had run aground a few miles from the Skye Bridge
. There were no reports of injuries. The captain of the vessel elected to wait for tug assistance, rather than use the submarine's own power to clear the stern from the obstruction, to minimize the damage to the hull's anechoic tile
s. A Royal Navy spokesperson said the vessel had been grounded on silt, and was re-floated at high tide
. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency
-chartered emergency tow vessel Anglian Prince was dispatched to the scene from Stornoway
.
During the operation to tow Astute clear, there was a collision between the rescue tug and the submarine, which resulted in damage to her starboard foreplane. The submarine returned under its own power to Faslane, where the damage incurred in the grounding and afterwards was described as "minor".
On 27 October 2010, the Royal Navy announced that the captain of Astute, Commander Andy Coles, had been relieved of his command. It was subsequently decided that he would not face a court martial. In December 2010 it was announced that Commander Iain Breckenridge, who has previously commanded the submarine HMS Tireless
, would take over command. On 11 December 2010, on her first day back at sea after the grounding incident, Astute had to return to port for repairs due to a minor problem with her steam plant.
assault rifle
in the submarine's control room, hitting two officers, before being overpowered by Southampton Council's leader, Royston Smith, a former RAF flight engineer
, and chief executive Alistair Neill.
According to Smith:
The gunman was later arrested by Hampshire Constabulary
officers. The dead officer was named as Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, Astutes weapons engineering officer. Donovan was charged with the murder of Molyneux and the attempted murder of Petty Officer Christopher Brown, Chief Petty Officer David McCoy, and Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hodge.
On 19 September 2011, at Winchester Crown Court, Donovan admitted the murder of Lieutenant Commander Molyneux and three counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 25 years.
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, the lead ship
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
of her class
Astute class submarine
The Astute-class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines in service with the Royal Navy. The class sets a new standard for the Royal Navy in terms of weapons load, communication facilities and stealth. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions at...
. Builders BAE Systems describe her as "the largest and most able attack submarine that the Royal Navy has operated, with a performance to rival any in the world".
Built as a successor to the Trafalgar class
Trafalgar class submarine
The Trafalgar class is a class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines in service with the Royal Navy. They are a direct follow on from the Swiftsure class and were, until the introduction of the Astute class, the Royal Navy's most advanced nuclear fleet submarines.Seven boats were built and...
, Astute is 50% bigger than the T boats but has a smaller crew. She carries 38 weapons, a mixture of Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. She was commissioned in 2010 and is undergoing extended sea trials and will be handed over to the Royal Navy for operational service in late 2012.
Astute has twice hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in her short career. On 22 October 2010, she ran aground off the west coast of Scotland and her captain was subsequently relieved of his command. On 8 April 2011 a rating shot dead one officer in the control room and injured another whilst the Astute was docked in Southampton. Visiting dignitaries restrained the man and he was subsequently convicted of murder.
Overview
Astute is the second submarine of the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
to be named for the characteristic of shrewdness and discernment. The first was the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Amphion-class
Amphion class submarine
|-See also:- External links :**...
Astute
HMS Astute (P447)
HMS Astute was an Amphion-class submarine. Her keel was laid down by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness. She was launched in 1944 and commissioned in 1945.Astute was scrapped on 1 October 1970 at Dunston on Tyne.-External links:*...
. The 7,400-tonne Astutes nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25 year service. Since the submarine can purify water and air, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The main limit is that the submarine will only be able to carry three months' supply of food for 98 crew.
Astute has stowage for 38 weapons and would typically carry both Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk
BGM-109 Tomahawk
The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...
Block IV cruise missiles, the latter costing £870,000 each. The Tomahawk missiles are capable of hitting a target to within a few metres if the target is within the range of 1,240 miles.
Project management
She was the first submarine built in the UK since HMS VengeanceHMS Vengeance (S31)
HMS Vengeance is the fourth and final of the Royal Navy. Vengeance carries the Trident ballistic missile, the UK's nuclear deterrent....
in 1998. The launching of Astute was 43 months behind schedule, and the Astute class were £900 million over budget. The delay was caused primarily by the problems of using 3D CAD; Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said in 2006 that "due to the complexity of the programme, the benefits that CAD was envisaged to provide were more difficult to realise than either MoD or the contractor had assumed." Other issues were the insufficient capabilities within GEC-Marconi which became evident after contract-award, and poor programme management. BAE Systems and the Ministry of Defence reached an agreement in February 2003 whereby they would invest £250 million and £430 million respectively to address the programme's difficulties.
Among the changes to accelerate the project, psychologists were consulted to improve communication and management effectiveness. Murray also reduced manpower requirements by using US construction methods, specifically those of the Electric Boat
Electric boat
While a significant majority of water vessels are powered by diesel engines, with sail power and gasoline engines also remaining popular, boats powered by electricity have been used for over 120 years. Electric boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion...
company. For example, submarine sections were built vertically so that gravity could assist assembly.
History
Astute was ordered from GEC's Marconi MarineVickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd
In 1994 VSEL was subject to two takeover proposals, one from GEC and another from British Aerospace . VSEL was willing to participate in a merger with a larger company to reduce its exposure to cycles in warship production, particularly following the "Options for Change" defence review after the...
(now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions) on 17 March 1997. She was laid down at BAE's submarine facility in Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
on 31 January 2001, 100 years to the day after the keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
was laid down for the Royal Navy's first submarine . Astute was launched on 8 June 2007 by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. The launch attracted more than 10,000 spectators.
Astute left Barrow on 15 November 2009 and on 20 November 2009, arrived at her home port of HMNB Clyde
HMNB Clyde
Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy...
at Faslane
Faslane (bay)
Faslane on Gare Loch is the name of a bay near the village of Garelochhead, and is now the main part of HM Naval Base Clyde in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, as well as being a Defence Logistics Organisation port, operated in dual site organisation with Great Harbour, Greenock, by Serco Denholm.Faslane...
.
In late 2011 will spend 5 months at the US Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center in the Bahamas and will be handed over to the Royal Navy for operational service in late 2012.
Running aground and collision with tug
On 22 October 2010, the Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
confirmed that Astute had "run into difficulties" off the Isle of Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
while on trials after eye-witnesses reported the submarine had run aground a few miles from the Skye Bridge
Skye Bridge
The Skye Bridge is a road bridge over Loch Alsh, connecting mainland Highland with the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It forms part of the A87. The bridge is located at around , with one pillar standing on the island of Eilean Bàn....
. There were no reports of injuries. The captain of the vessel elected to wait for tug assistance, rather than use the submarine's own power to clear the stern from the obstruction, to minimize the damage to the hull's anechoic tile
Anechoic tile
Anechoic tiles are rubber or synthetic polymer tiles containing thousands of tiny voids, applied to the outer hulls of military ships and submarines, as well as anechoic chambers...
s. A Royal Navy spokesperson said the vessel had been grounded on silt, and was re-floated at high tide
High Tide
High Tide was a band formed in 1969 by Tony Hill , Simon House , Peter Pavli and Roger Hadden .-History:...
. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is a UK executive agency working to prevent the loss of lives at sea and is responsible for implementing British and International maritime law and safety policy.This involves coordinating search and rescue at sea through Her Majesty's Coastguard , ensuring that...
-chartered emergency tow vessel Anglian Prince was dispatched to the scene from Stornoway
Stornoway
Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
.
During the operation to tow Astute clear, there was a collision between the rescue tug and the submarine, which resulted in damage to her starboard foreplane. The submarine returned under its own power to Faslane, where the damage incurred in the grounding and afterwards was described as "minor".
On 27 October 2010, the Royal Navy announced that the captain of Astute, Commander Andy Coles, had been relieved of his command. It was subsequently decided that he would not face a court martial. In December 2010 it was announced that Commander Iain Breckenridge, who has previously commanded the submarine HMS Tireless
HMS Tireless (S88)
HMS Tireless is a nuclear submarine of the Royal Navy and is the third vessel of her class. She is the second submarine of the Royal Navy to bear this name...
, would take over command. On 11 December 2010, on her first day back at sea after the grounding incident, Astute had to return to port for repairs due to a minor problem with her steam plant.
2011 shooting incident
On 8 April 2011, one naval officer was killed and another injured in a shooting on board Astute while berthed at Southampton docks. Southampton City Council's leader, chief executive, and mayor were on board at the time. During a changeover of armed guards, Able Seaman Ryan Donovan opened fire with an SA80SA80
The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....
assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
in the submarine's control room, hitting two officers, before being overpowered by Southampton Council's leader, Royston Smith, a former RAF flight engineer
Flight engineer
Flight engineers work in three types of aircraft: fixed-wing , rotary wing , and space flight .As airplanes became even larger requiring more engines and complex systems to operate, the workload on the two pilots became excessive during certain critical parts of the flight regime, notably takeoffs...
, and chief executive Alistair Neill.
According to Smith:
The gunman was later arrested by Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.The force area includes the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth...
officers. The dead officer was named as Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, Astutes weapons engineering officer. Donovan was charged with the murder of Molyneux and the attempted murder of Petty Officer Christopher Brown, Chief Petty Officer David McCoy, and Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hodge.
On 19 September 2011, at Winchester Crown Court, Donovan admitted the murder of Lieutenant Commander Molyneux and three counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 25 years.