HMS Astute: The Emperor of the Ocean
It is the Titanic of submarines, hopefully not in the wake of the cruise ship’s tragic end. The British royal navy’s super-submarine, HMS Astute, is revealed as the largest and deadliest submarine ever built. It weighs 7,800 tonne and can circumnavigate the globe without surfacing. It is the length of an entire football pitch at 97m and the width of four double-decker buses. It moves as silently as a dolphin at 30 knots per hour. Powered by a nuclear reactor, it never needs refuelling. The ability to produce oxygen and drinking water means the submarine is self-sustained and needs never emerge from deep within the sea throughout its 25 years’ lifespan.
Astute can detect ships 3,000 nautical miles away at the New York harbour. It is fitted with 38 Tomahawk cruise missiles which could hit targets 1,984km away in North Africa from the coast of Plymouth. It also has spearfish torpedoes for attack or defence purposes though it is not equipped with nuclear weapons. The submarine costs £960 million and it is the first of four vessels to be built costing a total of £3.85 billion.
While the rest of the world raced to conquer the skies, Britain has turned to the ocean. Is Britain set to revive its past role and glory as a major navy power? Is the submarine a necessity in Britain’s military defence plans today? Astute will be an important and remarkable vessel under the water.
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Entries (RSS)
October 29th, 2009 06:14
Why do americans alwasy think they have the best of everything? Wel no they dont. Most military equipment and vehicles are made in the UK because we’re the best. The US may have a bigger army but quantity is nothing compared to the UK army. The US has never won a war on its own, whilst Britain has had the most wins out of any country in the world EVER.
So please, dont try and show off about the US’ capabilities when you aint got nothing on the UK.
July 12th, 2007 20:45
As a hunter/killer i would hardly call it the biggest (US Hunter/killer subs are bigger) but the technology used on this boat make her one of the deadliest for sure. She’s beautiful!!
June 12th, 2007 20:00
Holy shit.. are they getting ready for world war 3??? lol