Queen to name new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth
- Thread starter Blackleaf
- Start date
Canada could have the most powerful military in the world for a few years if we were willing to tank our economy in the process. So those countries that enjoy beating their tarzan chests through military spending are more than free to do so as long as their honour their debts. I have investments after all.
HMS ARTFUL IS LAUNCHED
The Royal Navy's third Astute-class submarine has slipped out of her dry dock where she was built in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
The 318ft long, 7,400 tonne nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Artful has cost taxpayers more than £1billion but, along with her six sisters (Astute, Ambush, Audacious, Anson, Agamemnon, Ajax), sets a new standard in weapons load and stealth.
Armed with both Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles, Artful's design marks a shift away from a Cold War focus on anti-submarine warfare to a concept of 'Maritime Contributions to Joint Operations'.
Her Tomahawk cruise missiles are claimed to have an accuracy of just a few metres over a range of within 1,240 miles, giving Artful the ability to support ground forces anywhere in the world.
More than 39,000 acoustic tiles mask the vessel's sonar signature, meaning that, despite her large size, she slips through the seas with less noise than a baby dolphin.
To help them remain stealthy, rather than periscopes each Astute-class submarine is to be fitted with two optronics masts which only need to break the surface of the water for a few seconds to give a 360 degree view on high-definition screens in the ops room.
Her sonar is said to be so powerful it can detect ships leaving harbour in New York City from a listening point below the waters of the English Channel, 3,000 nautical miles away.
In 2012, during simulated battles with the US Navy's latest Virginia-class submarine (the USS New Mexico), it was reported that the Americans were "taken aback" by the capabilities of Artful's sister ship, Astute. Royal Navy Commander Ian Breckenridge was quoted saying: "Our sonar is fantastic and I have never before experienced holding a submarine at the range we were holding USS New Mexico. The Americans were utterly taken aback, blown away with what they were seeing."
She was officially named last September by Amanda, Lady Zambellas, wife of the Royal Navy’s First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas.
Taking the Royal Navy into the 21st Century: Third of Britain's £1billion Astute class submarines finally takes to the water
Artful and her sisters in the Astute class set a new standard in weapons load and stealth
She will be armed with both Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles
The new submarine is covered with anti-acoustic tiles which make her 'quieter than a baby dolphin'
By Damien Gayle
18 May 2014
Daily Mail
Edging slowly out of her dry dock at Barrow-in-Furness, this is the third of the Astute class submarines that will take the Royal Navy's fighting capabilities into the 21st Century.
The 318ft long, 7,400 tonne nuclear-powered attack submarine Artful has cost taxpayers more than £1billion but, along with her sisters, sets a new standard in weapons load and stealth.
Armed with both Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles, Artful's design marks a shift away from a Cold War focus on anti-submarine warfare to a concept of 'Maritime Contributions to Joint Operations'.
Artful, the third highly-complex Astute class submarine designed and built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy, appears outside her huge Devonshire Dock Hall birthplace in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria for the first time
Facts and stats: Armed with Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles, Artful's design marks a shift away from a Cold War anti-submarine warfare
The Tomahawk cruise missiles she will carry are claimed to have an accuracy of just a few metres over a range of within 1,240 miles, giving Artful the ability to support ground forces anywhere in the world.
More than 39,000 acoustic tiles mask the vessel's sonar signature, meaning she slips through the seas with less noise than a baby dolphin.
Yet her sonar is said to be so powerful it can detect ships leaving harbour in New York City from a listening point below the waters of the English Channel, 3,000 nautical miles away.
Artful got her toes wet for the first time yesterday, more than 24 hours after she first emerged from the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. She was officially named last September by Amanda, Lady Zambellas, wife of the Royal Navy’s First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas.
Stealth: More than 39,000 acoustic tiles mask Artful's sonar signature, meaning she will slip through the seas with less noise than a baby dolphin
Hunter: Yet her sonar is so powerful it can detect ships from 3,000 nautical miles away - equivalent to the distance between the English Channel and New York. This technology astounded the Americans in 2012 when HMS Artful's sister ship, HMS Astute, held back new USN submarine USS New Mexico during simulated battles
Expensive: The 97m long, 7,400 tonne nuclear-powered attack submarine Artful has cost taxpayers more than £1billion
All the Astute-class submarines are being constructed at Barrow-in Furness, Cumbria
Stuart Godden, Astute Programme Director for BAE Systems, said: 'The launch of Artful is another significant step forward in the Astute programme.
'Building on past experiences we’ve been able to launch her in the most advanced state of construction of any submarine to be built in Barrow. This allows us to now fully concentrate on the test and commissioning activities required to get her to sea.
'Moving a submarine of this size from its build hall to the water is very challenging. It’s testament to the experience and careful planning of the team involved that Artful is now ready for the next phase in her programme.
'Witnessing a submarine move out of the hall and be readied for launch is truly inspiring and a source of great pride to the thousands who have played a part in getting Artful to this stage.'
Artful will now undergo a series of complex tests to prove the safety and operability of her systems before she departs BAE Systems’ site for sea trials.
Video: Tomahwak missile fired from Astute-class sub hits its target:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=g3sRu3MUnHY
Natural habitat: Artful got her toes wet for the first time yesterday, 24 hours after emerging from the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Final checks: Artful will now undergo a series of tests to prove the safety and operability of her systems before she departs BAE Systems' site for sea trials
The Ministry of Defence’s Director Submarines, Rear Admiral Mike Wareham, said: 'The Astute programme is making real progress and the sight of the third submarine afloat in the water is a reflection of the hard work of both the MOD and industry.
'The launch of this submarine brings it a step closer to entering into service where it will provide a key capability for the Royal Navy and an essential component of the Submarine Service into the future.'
BAE Systems, the prime contractor in the Astute programme, is the UK's only designer and builder of nuclear powered submarines - one of the most complex engineering programmes in the world today.
The first two submarines in the Astute class – HMS Astute and HMS Ambush – have now been handed over to the Royal Navy, while the remaining five are in various stages of construction.
Astute class submarines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TYkgTwXAVzA
The Royal Navy's third Astute-class submarine has slipped out of her dry dock where she was built in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
The 318ft long, 7,400 tonne nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Artful has cost taxpayers more than £1billion but, along with her six sisters (Astute, Ambush, Audacious, Anson, Agamemnon, Ajax), sets a new standard in weapons load and stealth.
Armed with both Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles, Artful's design marks a shift away from a Cold War focus on anti-submarine warfare to a concept of 'Maritime Contributions to Joint Operations'.
Her Tomahawk cruise missiles are claimed to have an accuracy of just a few metres over a range of within 1,240 miles, giving Artful the ability to support ground forces anywhere in the world.
More than 39,000 acoustic tiles mask the vessel's sonar signature, meaning that, despite her large size, she slips through the seas with less noise than a baby dolphin.
To help them remain stealthy, rather than periscopes each Astute-class submarine is to be fitted with two optronics masts which only need to break the surface of the water for a few seconds to give a 360 degree view on high-definition screens in the ops room.
Her sonar is said to be so powerful it can detect ships leaving harbour in New York City from a listening point below the waters of the English Channel, 3,000 nautical miles away.
In 2012, during simulated battles with the US Navy's latest Virginia-class submarine (the USS New Mexico), it was reported that the Americans were "taken aback" by the capabilities of Artful's sister ship, Astute. Royal Navy Commander Ian Breckenridge was quoted saying: "Our sonar is fantastic and I have never before experienced holding a submarine at the range we were holding USS New Mexico. The Americans were utterly taken aback, blown away with what they were seeing."
She was officially named last September by Amanda, Lady Zambellas, wife of the Royal Navy’s First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas.
Taking the Royal Navy into the 21st Century: Third of Britain's £1billion Astute class submarines finally takes to the water
Artful and her sisters in the Astute class set a new standard in weapons load and stealth
She will be armed with both Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles
The new submarine is covered with anti-acoustic tiles which make her 'quieter than a baby dolphin'
By Damien Gayle
18 May 2014
Daily Mail
Edging slowly out of her dry dock at Barrow-in-Furness, this is the third of the Astute class submarines that will take the Royal Navy's fighting capabilities into the 21st Century.
The 318ft long, 7,400 tonne nuclear-powered attack submarine Artful has cost taxpayers more than £1billion but, along with her sisters, sets a new standard in weapons load and stealth.
Armed with both Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles, Artful's design marks a shift away from a Cold War focus on anti-submarine warfare to a concept of 'Maritime Contributions to Joint Operations'.
Artful, the third highly-complex Astute class submarine designed and built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy, appears outside her huge Devonshire Dock Hall birthplace in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria for the first time
Facts and stats: Armed with Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles, Artful's design marks a shift away from a Cold War anti-submarine warfare
The Tomahawk cruise missiles she will carry are claimed to have an accuracy of just a few metres over a range of within 1,240 miles, giving Artful the ability to support ground forces anywhere in the world.
More than 39,000 acoustic tiles mask the vessel's sonar signature, meaning she slips through the seas with less noise than a baby dolphin.
Yet her sonar is said to be so powerful it can detect ships leaving harbour in New York City from a listening point below the waters of the English Channel, 3,000 nautical miles away.
Artful got her toes wet for the first time yesterday, more than 24 hours after she first emerged from the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. She was officially named last September by Amanda, Lady Zambellas, wife of the Royal Navy’s First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas.
Stealth: More than 39,000 acoustic tiles mask Artful's sonar signature, meaning she will slip through the seas with less noise than a baby dolphin
Hunter: Yet her sonar is so powerful it can detect ships from 3,000 nautical miles away - equivalent to the distance between the English Channel and New York. This technology astounded the Americans in 2012 when HMS Artful's sister ship, HMS Astute, held back new USN submarine USS New Mexico during simulated battles
Expensive: The 97m long, 7,400 tonne nuclear-powered attack submarine Artful has cost taxpayers more than £1billion
All the Astute-class submarines are being constructed at Barrow-in Furness, Cumbria
Stuart Godden, Astute Programme Director for BAE Systems, said: 'The launch of Artful is another significant step forward in the Astute programme.
'Building on past experiences we’ve been able to launch her in the most advanced state of construction of any submarine to be built in Barrow. This allows us to now fully concentrate on the test and commissioning activities required to get her to sea.
'Moving a submarine of this size from its build hall to the water is very challenging. It’s testament to the experience and careful planning of the team involved that Artful is now ready for the next phase in her programme.
'Witnessing a submarine move out of the hall and be readied for launch is truly inspiring and a source of great pride to the thousands who have played a part in getting Artful to this stage.'
Artful will now undergo a series of complex tests to prove the safety and operability of her systems before she departs BAE Systems’ site for sea trials.
Video: Tomahwak missile fired from Astute-class sub hits its target:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=g3sRu3MUnHY
Natural habitat: Artful got her toes wet for the first time yesterday, 24 hours after emerging from the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
The Ministry of Defence’s Director Submarines, Rear Admiral Mike Wareham, said: 'The Astute programme is making real progress and the sight of the third submarine afloat in the water is a reflection of the hard work of both the MOD and industry.
'The launch of this submarine brings it a step closer to entering into service where it will provide a key capability for the Royal Navy and an essential component of the Submarine Service into the future.'
BAE Systems, the prime contractor in the Astute programme, is the UK's only designer and builder of nuclear powered submarines - one of the most complex engineering programmes in the world today.
The first two submarines in the Astute class – HMS Astute and HMS Ambush – have now been handed over to the Royal Navy, while the remaining five are in various stages of construction.
Astute class submarines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TYkgTwXAVzA
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More than 39,000 acoustic tiles mask the vessel's sonar signature, meaning she slips through the seas with less noise than a baby dolphin.
Her sonar is said to be so powerful it can detect ships leaving harbour in New York City from a listening point below the waters of the English Channel, 3,000 nautical miles away.
In 2012, during simulated battles with the US Navy's latest Virginia-class submarine (the USS New Mexico), it was reported that the Americans were "taken aback" by the capabilities of Artful's sister ship, Astute. Royal Navy Commander Ian Breckenridge was quoted saying: "Our sonar is fantastic and I have never before experienced holding a submarine at the range we were holding USS New Mexico. The Americans were utterly taken aback, blown away with what they were seeing."
Your most advanced submarines - the supposedly brilliant, superior, highly-advanced, powerful Virginia-class submarines - are no match whatsoever for the Astute-class submarines according to the evidence.
But go on. Keep being in denial all you like. You seem to think that denying a fact will make that fact disappear. But it won't. We'll still have the most advanced and most powerful submarines on the planet....... and you won't.
HMS Ambush in action for the first time:
HMS Ambush in Action for the First Time 08.08.13 - YouTube
The Royal Navy is not the only navy to wipe the floor with the US Navy recently. The Royal Australian Navy has, too: Australian Sub defeats US Navy in exercise - YouTube
The world's two most powerful submarines clashed - and it was Britain's which came out on top:
US 'taken aback' by HMS Astute (British sub)
Defence Management ^
06 March 2012
The United States Navy was 'blown away' by the performance of HMS Astute during sea trials in the Atlantic recently, the ship's commanding officer has said.
Commander Ian Breckenridge, 45, led HMS Astute through four-and-a-half months of sea trials off the US east coast and said the submarine had demonstrated "tremendous capability".
"We met and surpassed every expectation. She is just better than any other submarine I have ever been on," he said.
During the trials, Astute took part in simulated battles with American Virginia Class submarine USS New Mexico, deep dived, and fired her Tomahawk missiles and Spearfish torpedoes. HMS Astute sailed 16,400 miles during the deployment.
The success comes after a series of operational setbacks during the submarine's sea trials to date, with Astute becoming grounded on a shingle bank in late 2010 and later damaged by a tug sent to recover her. The attack submarine also suffered a failure of support systems in February 2011.
Astute arrives at her new home, Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde, Faslane
"Astute is still on trial and she is first of class, which always brings its own problems, but we are beginning to look beyond those problems and see the promise," said Commander Breckenridge, who previously served on HMS Superb and HMS Tireless.
"We fired off four Tomahawks, aimed at a corner of Eglin Air Force Base to test for accuracy, and we fired six Spearfish torpedoes, including the first salvo firing by a British submarine for 15 years.
"Our sonar is fantastic and I have never before experienced holding a submarine at the range we were holding USS New Mexico. The Americans were utterly taken aback, blown away with what they were seeing."
Second in class HMS Ambush was launched in 2011 and is set to begin sea trials later this year. The UK is to receive seven Astute class submarines overall.
Planesman's position - the planesman operates the rudder and hydroplanes (which help to control the angle of dive) when the submarine is being operated manually: a) Manual steering control b) Voice pipe - acts as back-up for communicating with the reactor room if the phone fails c) L-shaped display shows sub's heading d) Steering and diving hydraulic control. Digital display at the top shows pressure; the knobs underneath control rudder and hydroplanes e) Large screen display shows details of sub's aspect (angle of dive); the buttons beneath control hydroplanes f) Red sockets are CO2 injection points - in case of an electrical fire an extinguisher can be plugged in to spray CO2 behind the panel
US 'taken aback' by HMS Astute (British sub)
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Yes they did.
The Brits are just catching up and using US technology and weapons.
wtf? :lol:
So, I'm no authoritative um, submariner, but um...they have the wrong pic in that article.
BAE website is currently down but there's no way in hell that is current technology son. An older model they built sure but gimme a break.
Sadly, the pic is likely accurate.
A couple years back, I was heavily involved in finance and at that time, we were underwriting deals to Brit military contractors that were buying surplus American technology for the RAF and RN.
No sh*t, these guys were lining-up to buy old and used American tech and equipment for their 'new and advanced ' planes and boats.... The big joke was that no one ever dreamed that this old, used tech would have any value other than scrap, (precious) metals recovery or possible sale to a third world tin pot dictator.
We all laughed our collective balls off when the Brits were prepared to pay top dollar for this junk
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The new, hypermodern British sub fleet:
The Beatles - Yellow Submarine (Video from 1968 Movie) HD - YouTube
The Beatles - Yellow Submarine (Video from 1968 Movie) HD - YouTube
Judging by this - The United States Navy was 'blown away' by the performance of HMS Astute during sea trials in the Atlantic recently, the ship's commanding officer has said - "the Brits" have now overtaken you.
Come back in 2060 when you lot build better, more advanced submarines than the Royal Navy.
Not as much as the British were laughing (all the way to the bank) when the Canadians bought our four Upholders.
Not all the submarines the Canadians buy off the British turn out to be junk, though.
The British built 27 Oberons, giving six to the Aussies and three to the Canucks (Australia and Canada have a reputation for buying British subs, even old ones, rather than building their own). Like the British Porpoise-class (the last one being HMS Walrus, which served in the RN until 1987), the Oberon-class were far quieter than their American counterparts. They performed remarkably well in clandestine operations, performing surveillance and inserting special forces, vital during their heyday in the Cold War. The Oberon-class was arguably the best conventional submarine class of its time,with an astonishing reputation for quietness that allowed it to exist into the 21st century.
So it's not the first time that British submarines have outperformed their American counterparts and been the best in the world.
Best in the world at the time: Oberon-class submarine HMS Onyx saw action in the 1982 Falklands War
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The heart and soul of those vessels is in the electronics.... These 'advanced ' subs you go on about have 10 year old boards that are considered unfit by the American's standards.
Maybe you'd be better-off with screws and diesel engines
Maybe you'd be better-off with screws and diesel engines
Yeah, of course. You're an expert on the workings of the Astute-class submarines.
And what are the "American's standards"? Are they the standards that everybody should aspire to, for some reason, when it comes to submarines?
I hope not, because the new American submarines have already been proven to be inferior to their new British counterparts, when one was completely pwned by HMS Astute in a mock battle.
Captain what? Captain Birdseye?
You're no expert on the workings of the Astute-class submarines.
Yeah, sure... Anyone with an ounce of sense understands that you don't use ancient technology on a new project.
Anywho - as a gift from your Canadian and American friends (just for you), I have included a high-tech communications system that you can install in your rusty old boats.
You're welcome
Anywho - as a gift from your Canadian and American friends (just for you), I have included a high-tech communications system that you can install in your rusty old boats.
You're welcome
Who says so?
Anywho - as a gift from your Canadian and American friends (just for you), I have included a high-tech communications system that you can install in your rusty old boats.
You're welcome
Are they from one of your thirty year old, rustbucket Upholders?
Your submarines would stand no chance against a British submarine in a war situation.