Just two days after her sister-ship, HMS Astute, arrived home from her inaugural operational deployment, the second of the Royal UK Navy’s new Astute Class submarines, HMS Ambush also returned to HMNB Clyde after a successful maiden mission.
High-tech hunter-killer HMS Ambush left Faslane on July 4 to sail across the Equator to visit Rio de Janeiro in Brazil before heading for the North Atlantic and the United States.
HMS Ambush visited Rio in August and joined delegates from 34 other nations, including France, the United States and Peru, where she helped mark the Brazilian navy’s submarine forces’ centenary celebrations.
Speaking of the deployment, Commander Justin Codd, the Commanding Officer of HMS Ambush, said: “HMS Ambush is one of the most capable submarines in the world and the successful deployment has proven that she is now ready for deployment anywhere.
“There was much interest in the vessel from international navies and we were delighted to be able to host senior military personnel on board and to demonstrate the capabilities of this formidable submarine.”
The Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced submarine, Ambush is at the cutting edge of the UK’s military capability.
Ambush’s stop-over at Brazil was an important occasion, not only as an opportunity for the crew to forge relationships with international partners, but also to showcase the UK’s achievements in developing the Astute class.
HMS Ambush held a reception on board for the Head of the Brazilian navy, Admiral Mauro Neto, as well as naval representatives from other countries. Welcoming the attendees on board was the Royal Navy’s Rear Admiral Submarines and Commander Operations, Rear Admiral Matt Parr.
The boat also hosted two defence industry visits with Royal Navy specialists and BAE Systems and Babcock representatives in attendance.
After her Brazilian deployment, the boat next headed for the cool waters of the North Atlantic and a period of training and exercises before visiting the US Naval Base at King’s Bay in Georgia.
Barrow October 7, 2014 - Artful, the third Astute class submarine being built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy, has successfully completed her first ever dive - a landmark milestone in preparation for sea trials next year. This operation, known as the ‘trim and incline test', took place over two days, to prove the submarine's safety and stability in the water. The maiden dive was undertaken in the dock on BAE Systems' site in Barrow-in-Furness and involved a team of 80 highly-skilled personnel, including naval architects, engineers and Royal Navy crew members. The 7,400 tonne, 97 metre long state-of-the-art attack submarine, which was launched in May this year, was submerged to a depth of 15 metres to allow naval architects to calculate its precise weight and centre of gravity – calculations that are essential for the boat to safely dive and resurface when deployed. The dive also gave the crew the opportunity to test for the first time in the water the submarine's sonar, navigation and optical systems - Artful's ‘eyes and ears’. Tony Johns, Managing Director of BAE Systems Submarines said: "Successfully completing the trim and incline test is a significant milestone for Artful and a result of years' of work by skilled engineers, naval architects and our operations team. "Our focus is now on completing final test and commissioning activities before she leaves Barrow for sea trials next year." 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 four - Audacious, Anson, Agamemnon and the yet to be named seventh - are in various stages of construction. The Astute class is the most advanced attack submarine ever to have entered service with the Royal Navy. Armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, they can strike at targets up to 1,200 miles from the coast with pinpoint accuracy, while its sophisticated sonar system - Sonar 2076 - has the processing power of 2,000 laptops, equipping it with the 'most powerful eyes and ears' of any submarine in service today.
Plans for the jobs bonanza are now fully developed, say sources, despite the threat posed to the Royal Navy’s future on Gare Loch.
The revelation has led to renewed speculation that if there is a Yes vote next month, the Ministry of Defence expects to strike a deal to keep the UK’s nuclear deterrent in Scotland.
In the event of a No vote, Faslane will become Britain’s only specialist submarine base with the capacity for 16 vessels by 2022.
It will house seven new nuclear-powered Astute Class attack subs, currently being built at a cost of £1bn each, as well as the four Trident-carrying Vanguard Class vessels.
Two attack boats, HMS Astute and HMS Ambush, are already based at Faslane after being handed to the Royal Navy by defence contractor BAE Systems.Scotland will also become the sole maintenance home for the submarine fleet, following the closure of Portsmouth dockyard last year and after the Devonport base near Plymouth is scaled down by 2017.
While the MoD estimates that around 1,500 military and civilian jobs will be added at Faslane, thousands more jobs will be created as construction begins.
A source said: “The blueprints have been drawn up and the transition plans for the new Faslane are now under way. The original facility was designed to hold seven submarines, but under the new plans, a total of 16 will be hosted at any given time. The design plans are currently before the MoD and will effectively double the size of the facility and bring thousands of new jobs to the area. It’s a massive boost for Scotland.”
A Royal Navy spokesman said: “HM Naval Base Clyde is the biggest employment site in Scotland, with direct employment of 6,700 military and civilian jobs.
“Numbers of personnel at HM Naval Base Clyde are set to increase to an estimated 8,200 by 2022 as it becomes the UK’s Sub- marine Centre of Specialisation.
“There are currently six sub- marines and seven mine hunters base-ported at the site. By 2022 we expect that all the Royal Navy’s submarines, and seven mine hunters, will be at Clyde.”
In response to the latest developments, the Scottish Government reiterated its plans to remove Trident by 2020 and keep Faslane as Scotland’s main naval base. The SNP has said the country would inherit a share of Royal Navy vessels, as well as investing in an undisclosed number of “new frigates, conventional submarines and maritime patrol aircraft”.
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said the investment would be a massive boost for Scotland, but warned: “Unfortunately, all we hear from the Scottish Government is how they can’t get rid of the base quickly enough. As a result, a Yes vote in September would be hugely damaging.”
Britain's latest nuclear-powered submarine has been launched.
Artful, a 7,400-tonne, 106-yard-long attack submarine, was edged out of its giant construction hall at the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on Friday and was carefully lowered into the water the following day.
Artful, the third of seven highly complex Astute-class submarines being designed and built for the Royal Navy, will now begin the next phase of its test and commissioning process ahead of sea trials next year.
But it will also undergo a series of complex tests to prove the safety and operability of its systems before it departs 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 Ministry of Defence (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."
The Astute class of vessels, while nuclear powered but not nuclear armed, has great conventional missile firepower, state-of-the-art communications equipments and advanced stealth technology, making them quiet and harder to detect, according to the MoD.
Stuart Godden, for builders 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 was officially named in front of thousands of guests in September at an event to mark the end of its build process.
Sister vessels include HMS Astute and HMS Ambush. The other submarines in the class - in various stages of design or build - are Audacious, Anson, Agamemnon and Ajax.
Britain’s first new hunter-killer submarine in a generation docked in Gibraltar yesterday as it set sail on its first operational mission after two years of sea trials. The vessel, which has been described as ‘more complex than the space shuttle’, made her maiden call at Gibraltar and will deploy into the Mediterranean and through the Suez Canal. The Royal Navy has two Astute-class submarines, HMS Astute – the first in the series – and HMS Ambush. They were built at a cost of more than £1 billion each and are among the most advanced in the world. The new boats are replacing the Royal Navy’s Trafalgar class submarines – which include HMS Tireless - but the programme has been bedevilled by delays, faults and runaway costs since it began in the mid-1990s. Naval commanders also faced embarrassment in 2010 when HMS Astute ran aground on rocks off Scotland during sea trials. The submarine’s arrival was welcomed by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, who went on board yesterday afternoon. “She visits Gibraltar on her maiden operational deployment as the first port of call outside of the United Kingdom,” he told Parliament before his visit. “I shall be aboard Astute later today and will extend a warm welcome on behalf of the people of Gibraltar.” Spanish environmental campaigners were less welcoming than the Chief Minister. Antonio Muñoz, a spokesman for Verdemar Ecologistas en Acción, recalled various incidents in the vessel’s recent past. “The submarine is a danger not just to the environment, but to the populations of Andalucia and the Maghreb.” “It’s a floating bomb.” HQ British Forces did not comment on the submarine other than to confirm its arrival. “Today HMS Astute arrived in Gibraltar for a short visit as part of her scheduled operational tasking.
The first of Class in the Royal Navy’s most advanced fleet of attack submarines, HMS Astute, returned to HMNB Clyde on Tuesday (October 7) after spending eight months at sea on her first operational deployment.
The submarine’s Lady Sponsor, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Rothesay (The Duchess of Cornwall), joined senior naval officers and over 150 friends and family to welcome her return at a special ceremony at Faslane.
The Duchess, who attended the boat’s commissioning ceremony at Faslane on 27 August, 2010, has always taken a keen interest in the endeavours of both the boat and her Ship’s Company, leading up to this inaugural operation.
The Commanding Officer of the submarine, Commander Gareth Jenkins, said: “It was a tremendous honour for my Ship’s Company and me to be welcomed home by Her Royal Highness.
"It made what was already an auspicious occasion even more special. As Lady Sponsor, The Duchess is very popular with the crew and I know the time she spent chatting with their families was hugely appreciated.”
Artful, the third Astute-class submarine, undertook a trim dive on Friday.
The dive represents the first time the boat has been fully submerged and is a key moment for the submarine and the team of naval architects behind the design.
The trim dive allows Artful’s project team to prove the sub’s safety and stability in the water and will involve a team of up to 80 shipyard employees.
An accurate calculation of the boat’s weight and centre of gravity can also be assessed once Artful is fully submerged.
The dive also allows the Royal Navy crews to test some of the boat’s systems underwater for the first time.
Artful follows Astute and Ambush into the water with the third boat due to leave Barrow and start sea trials in 2015.
The seven Astute-class submarines will replace the older Trafalgar-class boats, which were built by Vickers in Barrow in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Trafalgar boats are undergoing decommissioning, with the first three – Trafalgar, Turbulent and Tireless, docked at the Devonport base in Plymouth.
The remaining four boats still in active service, Torbay, Trenchant, Talent and Triumph, are due to be decommissioned between 2017 and 2022.
Astute boats possess greater firepower, the latest communications equipment and more advanced stealth technology than previous classes of submarines, making them quieter than their predecessors and harder to detect.
Patrick H. 's insight:
Sa première mise à l'eau avait eu lieu en mai dernier :
Early design and technology development activities have been outlined by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in preparation for a new fleet of nuclear submarines.
The new vessels would be replacement for the Royal Navy's current Astute class of nuclear-powered attack submarines and would enter service from mid to late-2030s, IHS Jane's reports.
Currently in its pre-concept phase, the Maritime Underwater Future Capability (MUFC) project is exploring technology options that could deliver a more flexible vessel that is less expensive to build and operate.
The MUFC Propulsion Working Group (PWG) has been working on the project in conjunction with the MoD-led Submarine Naval Design Partnership 'rainbow' team.
Two Astute class submarines have so far been completed, with the second, HMS Ambush, currently on sea trials.
In March, the government announced extra investment in the BAE Systems' Barrow-in-Furness shipyard to facilitate delivery of the Astute class of nuclear submarines, involving work for many in security cleared roles.
The Royal Navy's newest submarine - a miniature sub which can launch underwater, has been spotted moored off of Gibraltar. The submarine is intended to launch underwater in order to carry commandos to their destinations covertly so they can perform attacks or infiltration near the water. Attached to a large nuclear sub, the mini pod can carry up to around eight elite commandos in heavy assault gear and is designed to be as stealthy as possible. The pod can be seen attached to the topside of the nuclear submarine, the HMS Astute, currently off the coast of Gibraltar. In a covert attack, the secret submarine pod will detach from the HMS Astute and head to its destination, absorbing sonar on the way to evade detection. The pod will be in use by Special Boat Service commandos in their covert operations, and the miniature submarine will likely make their activities hard to predict or anticipate. Before it was mounted to the top of the HMS Astute, the miniature submarine had to be airlifted by helicopter to seas near its destination, before being picked up later. Now the submarine will move closer to the destination, and plans for deployment and support for the commandos will be more readily available. The miniature submarine, codenamed 'Project Chalfont', has been tested since it was installed in 2012, but this is the first time it will reach active service. The HMS Astute is the largest attack submarine the Royal Navy has at its disposal, and is the lead ship of its class. Thanks to air recycling it could theoretically circumnavigate the planet without having to resurface, and its nuclear power system means it will never have to refuel again during its 25-year-service. However, its limit is that it is only able to carry three months worth of food for the 98 crew needed to man it. The miniature submarine's main duties are for counter intelligence, as it allows for incredibly covert ops from discreet locations, and will now be able to deploy while hidden underwater, rather than having to travel by helicopter, which runs the risk of revealing its position.
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