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Royal Navy - n3a2 - Royal Naval Vessels - Swiftsure Class Submarine
- Trafalgar Class, Astute Class -
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FLEET SUBMARINES -
SWIFTSURE CLASS, TRAFALGAR CLASS
ASTUTE CLASS
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The Royal Navy operates a total of nine Nuclear Powered Attack Submarines (SSNs)
in three classes - the Swiftsure Class, the Trafalgar class and the Astute class.
All three classes are capable
of continuous patrols at high underwater speed, independent of base support, and
can circumnavigate the globe without surfacing. These submarines
are capable of firing the Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise missile (TLAM).
The first of an initial four new Astute class SSNs entered service
in 2009.
ARMAMENT
The boats of the Swiftsure and Trafalgar classes are armed with a mix of the
following:
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Submarine
Launched Cruise Missiles (SLCM)
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Tomahawk Block IIIC, range 1,700 km
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Anti-Ship Missiles:
UGM-84B Sub Harpoon Block 1C; range 130 km
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Wire-guided
Anti-ship/submarine torpedoes: Range to 30 kms
SWIFTSURE CLASS
Six boats were built and commissioned.
HMS Swiftsure was decommissioned in 1992 due to damage suffered to
her pressure hull during trials. HMS Splendid followed in 2004 after
defence cuts caused a reduction in the size of the RN SSN fleet.
HMS Spartan was decommissioned in January 2006, with HMS Sovereign
following on 12 September 2006. HMS Superb was decommissioned on 26
September 2008. The remaining boat in the class, HMS Sceptre, is
scheduled to be decommissioned in 2010. They are being replaced by
the Astute-class submarine.
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SWIFTSURE
CLASS SUBMARINE Specifications
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Length
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82.9m
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Beam
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9.8m
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Draught
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8.2m
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Displacement
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4,200 tons surfaced and 4,500 tons dived
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Propulsion
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1 x Rolls Royce pressurised water-cooled reactor supplying steam to two
sets of General Electric geared turbines delivering 15,000 shp to one
shaft |
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Performance
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Max Speed 20 knots surfaced and 30+ knots dived
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Diving
depth
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400m (operational) and 600m maximum
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Complement
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12 officers and 85 ratings
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Torpedoes
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5 x 533 mm (21") tubes for 20 x Mk 24 Tigerfish wire-guided and Mk
8 anti-ship torpedoes
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Mines
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Up to 50 x Mk 5 Stonefish
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Or Mk 6 Sea Urchins instead of torpedoes
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Missiles
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5 x UGM-84A Sub Harpoon tube-launched anti-ship missiles
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SWIFTSURE
CLASS
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DATE
COMMISSIONED
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HMS Sceptre
(S104)
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1976 to be
decommissioned 2010
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TRAFALGAR
CLASS
The
Trafalgar class attack submarine HMS Turbulent has left Devonport Naval Base
with some of the most advanced communications links in the Royal Navy's
fleet of submarines thanks to an MoD update.
Several key
upgrades, along with routine service and maintenance, were incorporated in
the fifteen month package delivered by Babcock Marine at Devonport, which
will extend the submarine's operational life by two years.
An upgrade to the
communications system will significantly improve interoperability with
allied forces on deployed operations. Newly installed IT systems will
provide ship to shore connectivity when she is in port. The IT systems
inside the submarine have also been upgraded with the installation of the
Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) (DII(F)) network onto submarine
computers which provides a common communications platform across the MoD.
Devonport's dedicated
maintenance facilities are managing a busy programme of maintenance,
currently hosting two Trafalgar class submarines, HM Ships Tireless and
Triumph, for major service and repair programmes, as well as several major
surface ship support projects.
These
nuclear-powered fleet submarines are armed with homing torpedoes,
(range approx 15 kms+) that can be used against other
submarines or surface vessels. The Sub Harpoon long-range anti-ship missile (range
110 kms), is now in service as the principal anti-surface ship weapon
in these submarines.
Their long endurance and sophisticated weapon systems make them formidable
adversaries. There are three decks, and although space is restricted,
living conditions are comfortable.
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TRAFALGAR
CLASS SUBMARINE Specifications
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Length
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85.4m |
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Beam
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9.8m |
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Draught
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8.2m |
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Displacement
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4,700 tons surfaced and 5,200 tons dived |
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Propulsion
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1 x Rolls Royce pressurised water-cooled reactor supplying steam to
two sets of General Electric geared turbines delivering 15,000 shp
to one shaft |
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Max Speed
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20 knots surfaced and 32 knots
dived |
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Diving depth
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400m
(operational) and 600m maximum |
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Complement
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12 officers and 85 ratings |
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Torpedoes
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5 x 533mm (21") tubes for 20 x Mk 24 Tigerfish wire-guided and
Mk 8 anti-ship torpedoes |
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Mines
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Up to 50 x Mk 5 Stonefish or Mk 6 Sea Urchins instead of torpedoes |
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Missiles
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5 x UGM-84A Sub Harpoon tube-launched anti-ship missiles
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| TRAFALGAR
CLASS |
DATE
COMMISSIONED |
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HMS Trafalgar (S107) |
1981 |
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HMS Turbulent (S87)
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1982
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HMS Tireless (S88)
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1984
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HMS Torbay (S90)
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1985
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HMS Trenchant (S91)
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1986
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HMS Talent (S92)
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1988
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HMS Triumph (S93)
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1991
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ASTUTE
CLASS
With improved communications, a
greater capacity for joint operations and the ability to carry
more weaponry, the Astute-class submarines will become a
cornerstone of UK defence capability until at least 2035. Astute
will carry the Block IV Tomahawk long-range land attack missile
with a range of over 1,000 miles.
The Astute submarine programme is expected to have a total cost
to the MoD of about £3.5 billion with about 5,500 people being
employed on the project.
Astute Class submarines will have massively increased firepower
compared with earlier attack submarines and can dive to depths
in excess of 300 metres with a complement of 98 men. They are to
be powered by a Pressurised Water Reactor 2,
equipped with Core H, which will fuel the reactor for the
submarine's
full service life, ending the need for costly reactor
refuelling.
Astute class submarines will be based
at Faslane on the Clyde and will undergo refits at Devonport.
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ASTUTE
CLASS SUBMARINE Initial Specifications Include
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Dimensions
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97m x 10.7m x 10m
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Displacement
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6,500 tons surfaced and 7,800 tons dived
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Speed
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29 knots dived
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Complement
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12 officers and 86 ratings
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Armament |
Likely to be as for Swiftsure and Trafalgar classes
with 6 x torpedo tubes |
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ASTUTE CLASS |
DUE
TO BE COMMISSIONED |
| HMS Astute |
2009 |
| HMS Ambush |
2010 |
| HMS Artful |
2012 |
| HMS Audacious |
2013 |
Photos
Copyright BAe Systems
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