The biggest and
most powerful attack submarine ever built for the Royal Navy –
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.
Astute will be followed in due course by her sister
submarines Ambush, Artful and 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.
After touring Astute, the Minister for Defence Equipment and
Support, Quentin Davies, 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 step 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 at HM Naval
Base Clyde, 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.”
[ENDS]
Notes to Editors
1. For more information, please contact
Lisa Murphy of the DE&S Press Office on 07810 237923 or
David Hunter in the MoD Press Office on 0207 218 3256
2.
Images of Astute can be found at www.defencenewsimagery.mod.uk
in the package 16112009c.
3. HM Naval Base Clyde is the
biggest single site employer in Scotland and the biggest military
establishment in Scotland. More than 6,000 people are employed
directly and an estimated 4,000 more rely on the base
economically.
4. Astute’s arrival begins a process that will
see HM Naval Base Clyde become the UK’s sole operating submarine
base over the next decade. To this end, infrastructure
improvements and spends have included:
• £150 million on new single living accommodation for submariners
and other associated functions;
• £150 million on a new high tech floating jetty which will
eventually service all the Royal Navy’s hunter-killer attack submarines.
Contacts:
Ministry of Defence
NDS.MOD@coi.gsi.gov.uk