Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)

[abc123]

No SSNs at sea
On Friday 10th the Sun published an exclusive claiming all of the RNs attack submarines were inoperable. It would seem there is a grain of truth in this, all 7 boats were in Faslane or Devonport, at least for a time. This is unusual with at least two SSNs typically at sea at one time. The commitment to keeping a ‘duty Tomahawk boat’ stationed East of Suez has clearly had to be abandoned. With Russian submarines operating with increasing tempo near to UK waters, having no SSNs at sea is very serious, not least for the protection of the nuclear deterrent submarine. However informed naval sources state that, while not desirable, this is a short-term blip in the maintenance cycle and more usual patrol patterns with resume in the near future. Although rather more significant, the situation is akin to the storm that erupted last summer when all six Type 45s were alongside in Portsmouth .

...
Conclusion
Let us not pretend everything is fine. The RN’s SSN force is far too small and fragile. The legacy of flawed government policy, funding cuts, industry cock-ups and MoD mismanagement going back more than two decades is being felt on the frontline. There is a small army of politicians and Civil Servants who should be on trial for the gross negligence that has created this mess. With their hands tied by circumstances beyond their control, those serving today (and many of the civilian workers in the supporting infrastructure) should be commended for continuing to get submarines to sea. RN submariners retain an outstanding reputation for skill and aggression and the service does not compromise on nuclear safety. While it is obviously not quite business as usual, we can look forward to Trafalgar class submarines at sea again soon and their eventual replacement with the outstanding Astute class.

http://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/rn-atta ... -a-crisis/

[Pymes75]

£1.4 billion deal for Royal Navy’s new attack submarine

The MOD has negotiated a new £1.4 billion contract for the Royal Navy’s new attack submarine, the sixth in a total fleet of seven, which will protect the UK’s new aircraft carriers and nuclear deterrent.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/14-b ... -submarine

[dmereifield]

£1.4 billion deal for Royal Navy’s new attack submarine

The MOD has negotiated a new £1.4 billion contract for the Royal Navy’s new attack submarine, the sixth in a total fleet of seven, which will protect the UK’s new aircraft carriers and nuclear deterrent.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/14-b ... -submarine

Just to clarify, is the total cost of the 6th Astute £1.4 billion?

[abc123]

£1.4 billion deal for Royal Navy’s new attack submarine

The MOD has negotiated a new £1.4 billion contract for the Royal Navy’s new attack submarine, the sixth in a total fleet of seven, which will protect the UK’s new aircraft carriers and nuclear deterrent.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/14-b ... -submarine

Just to clarify, is the total cost of the 6th Astute £1.4 billion?

Yes, considering that she is half finished, I too wonder why signing that 1,4 billions contract now, and not in 2012?

[Caribbean]

Yes, considering that she is half finished, I too wonder why signing that 1,4 billions contract now, and not in 2012?

I think there was an initial £300m contract for long-lead items and initial work on the reactor and pressure compartments. This is the contract for the "completion".
A mildly interesting item - a small company that I have a modest investment in has just won a contract "for the provision of up to 8 Combined Oxygen Generating Systems ('COGS') and additional ancillary items to upgrade in-service Royal Navy submarines". Slightly puzzling as we are already half-way through the SSK build schedule

[dmereifield]

Yes, considering that she is half finished, I too wonder why signing that 1,4 billions contract now, and not in 2012?

I think there was an initial £300m contract for long-lead items and initial work on the reactor and pressure compartments. This is the contract for the "completion".
A mildly interesting item - a small company that I have a modest investment in has just won a contract "for the provision of up to 8 Combined Oxygen Generating Systems ('COGS') and additional ancillary items to upgrade in-service Royal Navy submarines". Slightly puzzling as we are already half-way through the SSK build schedule

So the total cost of boat 6 is £1.7 billion? I thought they were supposed to be coming in at around 1 billion now? Does anyone know how much boat 7 is likely to cost?

[Caribbean]

There's a table somewhere on Wiki with the estimates for each boat - I think 5 and 6 are around the £1.45 bill each. I think the £300m was split with at least one other boat

[Tinman]

Yes, considering that she is half finished, I too wonder why signing that 1,4 billions contract now, and not in 2012?

I think there was an initial £300m contract for long-lead items and initial work on the reactor and pressure compartments. This is the contract for the "completion".
A mildly interesting item - a small company that I have a modest investment in has just won a contract "for the provision of up to 8 Combined Oxygen Generating Systems ('COGS') and additional ancillary items to upgrade in-service Royal Navy submarines". Slightly puzzling as we are already half-way through the SSK build schedule

SSN. Not SSK.

[Caribbean]

@Tinman - oops, yes indeed - meant to say SSN

[shark bait]

Shame, I thought we we're buying a fleet of SSK's to protect the Cayman Islands but we just hadn't been told about it over here.

[90inFIRST]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -time.html

[wirralpete]

Audacious roll out from Devonshire Dock Hall

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/Ea ... 8386d44b07

Question for anyone - How long does it take for a boat to go from roll out to 1. sea trials then 2. acceptance into the fleet?

[ArmChairCivvy]

How long does it take for a boat to go from roll out to 1. sea trials then 2. acceptance into the fleet?

Going by Artful, about a year to 1. (from 1. to 2. Well, it depends):
"Artful is expected to be rolled out of the shipyard construction hall early next year [2014] and is due to start sea trials in early 2015"

[Digger22]

Any word on Ambush repair?

[Pymes75]

Question for anyone - How long does it take for a boat to go from roll out to 1. sea trials then 2. acceptance into the fleet?

Hey Pete,

Thanks for the link. See Note (b) of my Astute webpage for the previous Naming, First Dive, Sea Trials, Delivery and Commissioning dates:

http://www.pymes75.plus.com/military/astute.htm

Hope this helps.

[ArmChairCivvy]

First (or two) of class do not follow any rules (ironing out niggles is an erratic business), but I just wonder how the £300m used on upgrading the facilities in Barrow could potentially impact the schedule towards the end of the Astutes run?
- the hall can now hold 3 of them in parallel construction (but obviously at different stages relative to each other)
- aren't the boomers bigger; parallelism could go down when the activity shifts over to that class

What a coincidence, btw, that when Rand was asked to look at how the cost of the carriers could be minimised Rand came to the conclusion that 37% parallelism would deliver the lowest total construction cost

[Old RN]

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/Ea ... 8386d44b07

Those flank sonar arrays are massive!

[shark bait]

excellent to see, that is the sight of real naval power right there.

[The Armchair Soldier]

[Smokey]

Launch footage is a little reminiscent of Tracy Island.

[WhiteWhale]

I like how they are happy to show off every single bit of the Astute class design but the prop? NOPE.

[sea_eagle]

I think Audacious is the first to incorporate changes and improvements over the first batch of 3 boats? Can anyone confirm and say what is different?

[SKB]

The BAE built sub can now dive in warm water.

[Pymes75]

I think Audacious is the first to incorporate changes and improvements over the first batch of 3 boats? Can anyone confirm and say what is different?

She has a new Platform Management System provided by Northrup Grumman Sperry Marine. It uses COTS technology and utilises "Open Architecture" (which is most likely an ethernet and IP-based network).

[ArmChairCivvy]

uses COTS technology and utilises "Open Architecture" (which is most likely an ethernet and IP-based network).

What ? No more Windows for Submarines (except on most boats).
- never fear, the T45s run on it (a different version... both based on W2000?)