Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)

[Cooper]

Interesting, but still nobody answered my question...

The shape is as it is because the computer modelling no doubt showed them that it was a highly effective design I suppose.

...they didn't just sit down and change the traditional tear drop shape for the sake of it.

..but who cares anyway, it looks a mean and moody badass when in the water...

[Gabriele]

The bow of the british SSNs looks like it behaves better on the surface. But i don't think that would ever be considered a good reason to adopt it in this day and age: evidently it must have underwater advantages as well, unless everyone in the MOD went insane.
It is curious, however, that no one else seems to go down a similar path.

[SKB]

Image deleted and replaced below...

[Cooper]

It is curious, however, that no one else seems to go down a similar path.

..even more curious is that the Successor Class doesn't look likely to follow the Astute design philosophy either, so maybe the real world benefits they thought they'd get from such a hull shape haven't turned out as well as expected.

[bobp]

Is the shape of the Astute linked to its Sonar Arrays?

[Gabriele]

It is curious, however, that no one else seems to go down a similar path.

..even more curious is that the Successor Class doesn't look likely to follow the Astute design philosophy either, so maybe the real world benefits they thought they'd get from such a hull shape haven't turned out as well as expected.

It's early to say the Successor will be different. The very early concept art we saw suggests differences (chiefly, there are no planes, perhaps because of the X tail...?), but we don't get to see much of the actual bow. And we know that much of the front of the Successor is actually expected to be Astute-like, including torpedo tubes and associated spaces and same sonar. I would not write off the possibility that the bow will actually end up being the same.

[Ron5]

Probably a combination of ease of manufacture, placement of diving planes, and sonar placement.

By the way, Virginia doesn't really have a "tear drop" shape. That implies a reduction of aft radius. It's more like a straight sausage

[abc123]

It is curious, however, that no one else seems to go down a similar path.

Exactly Gabriele. I can't think that in Electric Boat ( not to mention other design companies ) nobody knows these things...

[SKB]

Astute Class SSN Cutaway Diagram

^ Right click the image and 'Open image in new tab' for full size (3966 x 1695)
Or, original image: http://canalpiloto.com.br/wp-content/up ... Piloto.jpg

[Ron5]

It is curious, however, that no one else seems to go down a similar path.

Exactly Gabriele. I can't think that in Electric Boat ( not to mention other design companies ) nobody knows these things...

The US and UK have always gone separate ways on diving plane location on their nukes.

And the UK has always been acknowledged as the leader in SSN killer design.

France & China, not so much.

[rhinocrates]

IIRC, the Astute hull form uses 'laminar flow". It is meant to reduce drag and turbulence by keeping the layer of water smoothly attached to the hull for as much of the length as possible, meaning a general increase in cross-section along the length, with the thickest portion about 2/3 of the way back. The concept was pioneered by Barnes Wallis as far back as the late 40s and 50s. It leads to a very quiet and hydrodynamically efficient form, but requires more complex - and expensive - design and fabrication.

The Virginia and Seawolf type straight tube can be modified by adding extra sections (as is the case with the Jimmy Carter and the upcoming Virginia SSGNs), which is not so easy with a laminar flow design.

[marktigger]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/roya ... -july-2016

ooops

[arfah]

................

[marktigger]

[SKB]

This class is jinxed.

[jimthelad]

That isnt going to polish out!

[Defcon 1]

One court martial incoming and a RN Captaincy finished.

Like putting your car into the back of another, there's no excuse for it.

Even if the merchant ship strayed out of its lanes they should have spotted it.

[~UNiOnJaCk~]

'There seems to be something wrong with all our bloody ships today'

Seriously though, what is it with the RN and its submarines these past few years, especially the Astute Class?

[AstuteAssassin]

Just need abit of duck tape, a hammer and she'll be good as new

[Ron5]

Bet it was a Spanish ship.

[SKB]

Rumours of Astute class being renamed as Accident class are not confirmed.

[Halidon]

One court martial incoming and a RN Captaincy finished.

Like putting your car into the back of another, there's no excuse for it.

Even if the merchant ship strayed out of its lanes they should have spotted it.

CO and watch officer, to start.

[SKB]

Some more photos of HMS Ambush...

[Bring Deeps]

Changing tack isn't the Z berth at Gibraltar pretty vulnerable to a USS Cole style motor boat terrorist attack?

[Pymes75]

Seriously though, what is it with the RN and its submarines these past few years, especially the Astute Class?

Calm down Beatty! Seriously, have you recently read the number of published incidents involving the Trafalgar boats - including Talent damaging her fin during an argument with polar ice?!