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The redesign of the boat to take PWR3 would be so extensive and effectively end up being SSNR.
But is it really case?mrclark303 wrote: ↑18 Feb 2023, 01:26The redesign of the boat to take PWR3 would be so extensive and effectively end up being SSNR.
It's best we double down on SSNR's digital design and hopefully tap some Australian $ too, to get things moving.
By all accounts the Dreadnought programme is progressing well and hopefully we can be cutting the steel for SSNR boat one, in the next four years.
The internal rearrangement would be so extensive , the unit cost of Astute would end up being 3 billion each, factoring in the redesign and engineering costs.R686 wrote: ↑18 Feb 2023, 02:25But is it really case?mrclark303 wrote: ↑18 Feb 2023, 01:26The redesign of the boat to take PWR3 would be so extensive and effectively end up being SSNR.
It's best we double down on SSNR's digital design and hopefully tap some Australian $ too, to get things moving.
By all accounts the Dreadnought programme is progressing well and hopefully we can be cutting the steel for SSNR boat one, in the next four years.
I keep see that PWR3 is based on the US S9G reactor in the Virginia-class which has a smaller beam than Astute, so in theory unless it a longer compartment on the US boats it should fit in the existing module for Astute pipe work might be the problem though on how different they are maybe.
My understanding is that PWR3 is too big for Astutes beam. Thus I am presuming that is not possible without redesign; and in which case you might as well be looking at an SSNR anyway.
wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑18 Feb 2023, 15:21My understanding is that PWR3 is too big for Astutes beam. Thus I am presuming that is not possible without redesign; and in which case you might as well be looking at an SSNR anyway.
So then it would presumably depend on how much the SSNR will be based on the Astutes. But that seems less likely from what we hear about likely similarities between AUKUS boats.
If RR still have the production capacity to make further PWR2 reactors then they might do so for a small (2 or 3) batch of Australian built Astute derivatives? Would be a decent introductory step to SSNs if at all technically feasible. I am thinking buy some specialist parts directly from UK manufacturers but do the construction itself in Australia employing a lot of contractors / consultants who used to work at Barrow on Astute but for whatever reason are not there working on Dreadnaught or can be spared for six month stints away from the SSBN project.
If they have already made the switch would they considering the long lead items?Phil Sayers wrote: ↑18 Feb 2023, 17:37If RR still have the production capacity to make further PWR2 reactors then they might do so for a small (2 or 3) batch of Australian built Astute derivatives? Would be a decent introductory step to SSNs if at all technically feasible. I am thinking buy some specialist parts directly from UK manufacturers but do the construction itself in Australia employing a lot of contractors / consultants who used to work at Barrow on Astute but for whatever reason are not there working on Dreadnaught or can be spared for six month stints away from the SSBN project.
Aren't we supposed to have 7 active SSN?wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 16:04 Another step closer to RN having 6 active SSN again, with Anson being 5th Astute (and Triumph as the last Trafalgar) in service.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-bri ... irst-time/
It's been a while since we had 7 boats operational unfortunately.dmereifield wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 16:48Aren't we supposed to have 7 active SSN?wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 16:04 Another step closer to RN having 6 active SSN again, with Anson being 5th Astute (and Triumph as the last Trafalgar) in service.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-bri ... irst-time/
Did you miss the news back on 20 May 2022 when BOTH Trenchant and Talent were retired early on the same day, so that we could crew Anson before her commissioning three months later.....dmereifield wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 16:48Aren't we supposed to have 7 active SSN?wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 16:04 Another step closer to RN having 6 active SSN again, with Anson being 5th Astute (and Triumph as the last Trafalgar) in service.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-bri ... irst-time/
As said, I think Astute will be requiring a short refit soon, followed by boat 2, so operating more than 5 for any length of time is unlikely for a long while.wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 22:45Did you miss the news back on 20 May 2022 when BOTH Trenchant and Talent were retired early on the same day, so that we could crew Anson before her commissioning three months later.....dmereifield wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 16:48Aren't we supposed to have 7 active SSN?wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 16:04 Another step closer to RN having 6 active SSN again, with Anson being 5th Astute (and Triumph as the last Trafalgar) in service.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-bri ... irst-time/
So for the last 9 months we have been down to just five active SSN - Anson sailing from Barrow takes us closer to having six.
Is that correct though? Astutes need less crew than the T-boats so why did we need two t-boat crews to crew one new Astute? More likely cost savings by not running on the two T-boats or unfixable 'serviceability' issues.wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 22:45Did you miss the news back on 20 May 2022 when BOTH Trenchant and Talent were retired early on the same day, so that we could crew Anson before her commissioning three months later.....dmereifield wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 16:48Aren't we supposed to have 7 active SSN?wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑19 Feb 2023, 16:04 Another step closer to RN having 6 active SSN again, with Anson being 5th Astute (and Triumph as the last Trafalgar) in service.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-bri ... irst-time/
So for the last 9 months we have been down to just five active SSN - Anson sailing from Barrow takes us closer to having six.
The only plus side is we have seen the utter ineptitude of the Russians, also apparently Chinas attempts to shadow our Indo Pacific tour in 2021 proved most illuminating.Scimitar54 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2023, 03:33 Triumph is expected to go next year, so we will then be back down to 5 (at most) because as has been pointed out above boats 1 and 2 must be approaching the need for major re-fits). This is a ridiculously low number of boats. A major increase in numbers is urgently required …… HMG, please get a grip! NOW!
reply there if you feel like it.