HMS Astute gives the Yanks a hard time

[jbi]

Seems like she passed with flying colours. Certainly a reassuring read after all the doom and gloom lately

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/roundup/ar...

[cal216610]

Does sort of make you feel proud, amazing tech on subs now all they need to do now is get the stealth/invisibility and they could be more important than planes and ships.

[Odie]

How would she fair against something like an Ula class though?

[jbi]

Odie said:

How would she fair against something like an Ula class though?

Hard to say... diesel's are very quiet when running on batteries, but limited in speed and range.

I would say the Astute has the technological edge though being a new design while the Ula is getting on 20 years old.

[audidoody]

>"The 318ft-long Astute will never need to be refuelled and her sonar can track ships 3,000 miles away.
>Her missiles have a target range of 1,200 miles with accuracy measured in metres.
>Naval command in Britain can reprogramme the missiles in mid-flight even if the submarine is thousands of miles away."

Impressive. But just who is this fearsome ordnance ever going to be unleashed at? Bearing in mind the enemies of the state are Somali pirates in wooden skiffs and/or Taliban in mud huts.

[Simpo Two]

audidoody said:

Impressive. But just who is this fearsome ordnance ever going to be unleashed at?

You never know.

'Tread softly but carry a big stick'.

[jmorgan]

If we had crystal balls we would not need the big stick. We don't, so we do.

[steve j]

What a marvelous piece of military hardware, maybe a certain South American country needs a couple of Tomahawks

[Tango13]

cal216610 said:

Does sort of make you feel proud, amazing tech on subs now all they need to do now is get the stealth/invisibility and they could be more important than planes and ships.

In theory it's possible to design the outer hull of a submarine to be invisible to active sonar, Ben Rich mentions it briefly in his book 'Skunk works'

[hurstg01]

audidoody said:

Impressive. But just who is this fearsome ordnance ever going to be unleashed at? Bearing in mind the enemies of the state are Somali pirates in wooden skiffs and/or Taliban in mud huts.

The Argies, then the French [not particularly in that order]

[Simpo Two]

hurstg01 said:

The Argies, then the French [not particularly in that order]

The French, of course. It's been 70 years since we sunk their fleet - time for some more target practice!

[kiteless]

Simpo Two said:

You never know.

'Tread softly but carry a big stick'.

Too right, and what with this and the Dauntless Class destroyers we do seem to be carrying some sticks that punch above our perceived weight.

[daz3210]

With a range like that why do we need to militarise the South Atlantic?

[Simpo Two]

daz3210 said:

With a range like that why do we need to militarise the South Atlantic?

Ever tried intercepting an inbound jet aircraft 10 miles from Stanley with a ship moored in Portsmouth?

[CDP]

daz3210 said:

With a range like that why do we need to militarise the South Atlantic?

To avoid another war.

[pingu393]

audidoody said:

Impressive. But just who is this fearsome ordnance ever going to be unleashed at? Bearing in mind the enemies of the state are Somali pirates in wooden skiffs and/or Taliban in mud huts.

Submarine-launched Tomahawks have been used in Afghanistan.

[rhinochopig]

audidoody said:

>"The 318ft-long Astute will never need to be refuelled and her sonar can track ships 3,000 miles away.
>Her missiles have a target range of 1,200 miles with accuracy measured in metres.
>Naval command in Britain can reprogramme the missiles in mid-flight even if the submarine is thousands of miles away."

Impressive. But just who is this fearsome ordnance ever going to be unleashed at? Bearing in mind the enemies of the state are Somali pirates in wooden skiffs and/or Taliban in mud huts.

TLAM and HK role is just one two of its many duties. Can be used to take clandestine pictures of coastlines, other vessels, etc. Can be used to insert and retrieve SF. Can be used as SIGINT platform too.

[bitwrx]

pingu393 said:

audidoody said:

Impressive. But just who is this fearsome ordnance ever going to be unleashed at? Bearing in mind the enemies of the state are Somali pirates in wooden skiffs and/or Taliban in mud huts.

Submarine-launched Tomahawks have been used in Afghanistan.

And Libya. And Iraq.

[Tango13]

The Argentine high command need to wake up and smell the coffee, the Royal Navy can terminate Argentina's fighting capability with whatever they choose... thermonuclear warheads, Tomahawk or simply sinking any Falklands bound invasion ships with conventional torpedos.

The only real dilema would be based on what to have for lunch, I believe roast pork is a favourite...

[Munter]

audidoody said:

Impressive. But just who is this fearsome ordnance ever going to be unleashed at? Bearing in mind the enemies of the state are Somali pirates in wooden skiffs and/or Taliban in mud huts. Iran, Syria, North Korea, and any countries supporting them.

Quick accuracy edit.