Fourth Astute class submarine Audacious completes first dive

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The fourth Astute class submarine, Audacious, which is being built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy, has completed her first ever dive.

The trim and basin dive took place over two days in Devonshire Dock, at the Company’s site in Barrow-in-Furness last week. The company said in a statement:

“The operation, which saw Audacious submerge fully under water for the first time, tested many of her on-board systems, and proved the safety and stability of the 7,400-tonne, 97 metre-long attack submarine.

Employees from BAE Systems worked alongside Audacious’ crew, including its Commanding Officer, Captain Scott Bower, to complete the test.”

Officially named in December 2016 and launched in April last year, Audacious is scheduled to leave Barrow for sea trials later this year.

HMS Astute, HMS Artful and HMS Ambush are already in-service with the Royal Navy. Boats 5 and 6, Anson and Agamemnon, along with a seventh, as yet unnamed but likely to be Ajax, Astute-class submarine are in different stages of construction at the Barrow site.

Long lead items for her construction were ordered in 2006 although the actual order was not placed until 2007. Launch was expected in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the submarine was due to leave the yard in 2017. She was eventually formally named in December 2016 and floated out in April 2017, she is due to leave in 2018 for sea trials.

The original budget was £1,279m but by 2015 this had risen to £1,492m.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago

The real trump card in the RN fleet.

sjb1968
sjb1968
6 years ago

Agreed and whilst the UK has many problems 10 of these would be one hell of a conventional deterrent. They can strike hundreds of miles inland with pinpoint accuracy and pretty much deny any nation on the planet transit by sea if required. A silent, low profile but very potent stick that is unfortunately not really appreciated by our politicians who like more prestigious weapon systems.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago
Reply to  sjb1968

Agree with all points. Sets the UK armed forces apart from so many others despite the endless moaning at just how crap we apparently are.

David Stephen
David Stephen
6 years ago

We need more and could probably squeeze an eighth in to the build schedule without delaying the new SSBNs by much but at that price is just isn’t happening. We might be better off buying 2/3 cheap SSKs to cover Perisher and and support the SSBNs thereby freeing up all the Astutes for other operations.

Stephen G.
Stephen G.
6 years ago
Reply to  David Stephen

We definitely need more than 7 of these.

LongTime
LongTime
5 years ago
Reply to  David Stephen

Not sure it’s a good idea to be running SSKs for perisher then expecting teacher to be able to teach all the tricks of commanding and using a SSN to its full potential. That a bit like teaching someone how to operate a .50 M2 on a GPMG and expecting them to know all the M2s quirks. If the RN really wanted a separate perisher boat best of to keep a T-boat in service just for that or build an extra A-boat just for that purpose. But the whole purpose of the practical part of perisher is to train and… Read more »

Stephen G.
Stephen G.
6 years ago

Submarines are the capital ship of the future.

Ian
Ian
6 years ago
Reply to  Stephen G.

Astutes are capital ships today.

Agree with all comments suggesting we should have more than 7.

Elliott
Elliott
6 years ago
Reply to  Stephen G.

Yes. That is why in the US SSNs and SSBNs inherited the Battleship and Heavy Cruiser naming conventions of being named for large cities (Los Angeles) or States (Ohio and Virginia classes).

Liam
Liam
6 years ago

Are the problems with the reactor a thing of the past? I know it was not identified particularly on an Astute class sub but it’s the same class reactor.

AV
AV
6 years ago

Great news day what with the type 26 hull section etc. also.
Amazing class. Astutes world leading in my humble opinion.

Barbara Riley
Barbara Riley
5 years ago

Proud of the Astutes real workhorses o the UK subsea fleet. Read alot from other countries views, they are envious which makes me even more proud. BZ to all crews and those involved in the making of these fantastic subs