Seaforth World Naval Review 2011 by Conrad Waters

Author:Conrad Waters [Waters, Conrad]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781848320758
Amazon: 1848320752
Publisher: Seaforth Publishing
Published: 2010-02-22T21:00:00+00:00

Astute pictured at sea for the first time in November 2009 during her voyage from Barrow-in-Furness to her new home port of Faslane. (BAE Systems)

Under the command of Commander A L Coles, on 14 November 2009 Astute finally slipped her moorings and departed Barrow-in-Furness for six days of basic sea trials before arriving for the first time at her home port of Faslane on the River Clyde in Dunbartonshire. After a couple of months of defect resolution alongside at Faslane, Astute was given clearance to go back to sea for further sea trials, sailing on 16 February 2010 and returning on 26 February. A major milestone was reached on 18 February when she conducted her inaugural dive in open waters in the Scottish Exercise Areas, safeguarded by the Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose. Afterwards the Commanding Officer signalled that ‘the submarine has handled exceptionally well, and, with a few exceptions has stood up to the rigours of the sea trials very well’. It had been planned that Astute would be delivered and commissioned during April, but this was delayed to the summer because of technical problems rather more numerous and serious than the signal indicated.

In May 2010 Astute conducted her first deep dive (the depth is classified, but probably 600m) and full power trial. During full power testing, she reached her maximum speed (again classified – but believed to be in excess of 30 knots). Further extensive testing and training was then conducted under the guidance of a team of Flag Officer Sea Training’s (FOST) submarine safety experts before she commenced a short maintenance period in June 2010 to resolve outstanding technical issues.

A final package of sea trials is scheduled before Astute will be delivered by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions to the Ministry of Defence, and formally commissioned in to the Royal Navy. HMS Astute (now officially ‘Her Majesty’s Ship’) is then scheduled to carry out trials to test her war-fighting capability before sailing to America to carry out procedural test firings of her Tomahawk missile and Spearfish torpedo weapon systems. Full operating capability should be declared in early 2011 following operational workup and agreement with BAE Systems on any outstanding requirements, defects or deficiencies.

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