'Quiet As a Baby Dolphin': The Astute-Class Submarine Is Not To Be Toyed With

 

What You Need to Know: The UK’s Astute-class submarines are among the most advanced and quietest in the world, rivaled only by the U.S. Navy. Equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Spearfish torpedoes, these submarines can launch precise strikes from 1,000 miles away and operate undetected thanks to over 39,000 acoustic tiles that mask their sonar signature.

Powered by a nuclear reactor with a 25-year lifespan, they possess unlimited underwater endurance, allowing global circumnavigation without surfacing.

Each submarine’s cutting-edge technology includes advanced sonar, electronic countermeasures, and a dry deck shelter for Special Forces, cementing their role as formidable assets for the Royal Navy.

How the Astute-Class Submarines Redefine Underwater Warfare

The Astute class are among the most capable submarines in service today.

Each boat is equipped with world-leading sensors, carries Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, and can circumnavigate the globe submerged, producing its own oxygen and drinking water.

Only the U.S. Navy can match these underwater warships. 

As noted by naval analyst H I Sutton, the Astute-class subs are the only ones outside the U.S. Navy able to launch the Tomahawk, a capability that truly sets them apart.

Quite Astute

The Astute-class program began in February 1986 when the Ministry of Defence (MOD) launched a number of studies intended to determine the capabilities and requirements for the replacement of its Swiftsure and Trafalgar-class fleet submarines.

Each of the submarines costs a reported £1.6 billion to build, but the capabilities offered are essentially priceless. The Astute-class boats are roughly 97 meters (318 feet) in length and have a crew of around 100 sailors, with a capacity for 109 in total.

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The final two of the planned seven of the class, the future HMS Agamemnon and HMS Agincourt, are now under construction in Barrow, England. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarines at Barrow-in-Furness and the first of class, HMS Astute, was launched by Queen Consort Camilla, then-Duchess of Cornwall, in 2007. The submarine was commissioned in 2010 and declared fully operational in May 2014.

Each of the Royal Navy's nuclear-powered Astute-class fleet submarines (SSNs) has been outfitted with many technological firsts, including not having an optical periscope.

Instead, high-specification video technology has been employed, which enables the crew to scan the horizon and get a 360-degree view to address any potential threat.

In addition, unlike other nuclear-powered submarines, the Astute-class was developed to utilize state-of-the-art anti-acoustic tiles. Each hull is fitted with more than 39,000 acoustic tiles that mask the vessel’s sonar signature and allow the submarines to glide through the water almost silently.

The little noise the boats give off has been compared to that of a "baby dolphin."

Unlimited Endurance

The fleet attack submarines are powered by a Rolls-Royce PWR2 (Core H) reactor and fitted with a pump-jet propulsor, the same reactor that was developed for the Royal Navy's Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines.

That particular nuclear reactor, which powers the submarines and has a 25-year lifespan before needing to be refueled, is also used to recycle air and water. It provides a theoretically unlimited endurance for the submarine and can circumnavigate the globe without surfacing. Each of the boats is typically supplied with about 90 days of food.

As deployments on the submarines can vary in length, with overall assignments lasting three years, two full crews rotate shifts to allow the vessel to remain at sea for as long as possible. 

Crews may serve between 60 and 80 days before resurfacing and rotating out.

True Attack Subs for the Royal Navy 

The Astute-class submarines have stowage for 38 weapons and typically carry a mix of Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles, with the latter capable of hitting a target within a few meters, to a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 km). The missiles can be also re-directed at a new target mid-flight, and can "beam" back images of the battlefield to its mother sub.

Each of the boat's Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes – which are nearly two tonnes – can further attack targets up to 14 miles away (which can increase to 30 miles at low speed) and is capable of blowing an enemy submarine clean out of the water. Guided by either copper wire or inbuilt sonar, the Spearfish delivers 660 lbs of explosive charge either when it impacts with the intended target or via an acoustic proximity fuse underneath.

The submarines' countermeasures suite includes decoys and electronic support measures (ESM).

Moreover, the Astute Combat Management System (ACMS), which is an evolved version of the Submarine Command System (SMCS) used on other Royal Navy subs, was developed to receive data from sonars and other sensors and, using advanced data handling and algorithms displays this data as real-time images on the command consoles.

For detecting enemy vessels, the Astute-class submarines are equipped with Sonar 2076 - an integrated passive/active search and attack sonar suite with bow, intercept, and towed arrays.

The Astute-class boats are also fitted with a dry deck shelter, which allows Special Forces – such as the Royal Marine Commandos or Royal Navy Special Boat Service (SBS) operators – to deploy whilst the submarine is submerged.

 

Legendary U.S. WW II Submarine Found 3,000 Feet Underwater 80 Years After Fierce Battle With Japanese Ship© Knewz

Legendary U.S. WW II Submarine Found 3,000 Feet Underwater 80 Years After Fierce Battle With Japanese Ship

The Naval History and Heritage Command had recently announced their joyful discovery of a U.S. World War II submarine. The submarine, USS Harder—nicknamed 'Hit 'em HARDER'—was found near the Philippine Island of Luzon, 3,000 feet underwater, sitting upright and mostly undamaged. Tim Taylor, CEO of the Lost 52 Project, had led the team that located it.

According to CBS News, NHHC Director Samuel J. Cox, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, said in a press release, "Harder was lost in the course of victory. We must not forget that victory has a price, as does freedom." He added, "We are grateful that Lost 52 has given us the opportunity to honor once again the valor of the crew of the 'Hit 'em HARDER' submarine that sank the most Japanese warships—in particularly audacious attacks—under her legendary skipper, Cmdr. Sam Dealey."

Knewz.com noted that Tim Taylor, along with diving expert Christine Dennison, had used advanced imaging tools and underwater robots to find and capture incredible images of the Harder. The submarine had been sunk off the coast of the Philippines by Japan in 1944 during World War II. NHHC stated, "Submarines, by their very design, can be challenging to identify, but the excellent state of preservation of the site and the quality of the data collected by Lost 52 allowed NHHC to confirm the identity of the wreck as Harder."

Tim Taylor and his team had also located other lost World War II submarines, including the USS Grayback, USS Stickleback, and USS Grunion. In recognition of his efforts, Taylor received a Distinguished Public Service Award from the Navy in 2021.

The USS Harder, commanded by the renowned Commander Samuel D. Dealey, had gained fame for sinking three Japanese destroyers and damaging two others within four days. However, Harder’s luck changed in 1944. On August 22, Harder and the USS Haddo sank three escort ships near Bataan. Later that night, Harder, Haddo, and USS Hake headed toward Caiman Point on Luzon. On August 24, Haddo and Hake evaded enemy ships, but Harder remained and fired three times at an escort ship, missing each shot. The escort ship then attacked with depth charges, sinking the Harder and killing all 79 crew members.

According to CNN, the National Medal of Honor Museum described Dealey’s tactics: "At 1,500 yards, Dealey fired three torpedoes and ordered the sub to dive. As the Harder passed 80 feet underneath the destroyer, two of the torpedoes struck the ship, sending shock waves through the submarine." Harder’s achievements earned it a Presidential Unit Citation for its first five missions and six battle stars during World War II. Its courageous commander, Dealey, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, a Navy Cross, two Gold Stars, and a Distinguished Service Cross.

The waters around the Philippines had seen many shipwrecks. In 2015, U.S. billionaire Paul Allen discovered the Musashi, one of Japan’s largest warships, in the Sibuyan Sea. Just last September, explorers had documented images of three shipwrecks from the Battle of Midway, including the first close-up photos of a Japanese aircraft carrier sunk in 1942.