HMS Artful (S121)
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | March 1997 |
| Builder: | BAE Systems Submarine Solutions |
| Laid down: | 11 March 2005 |
| Identification: | Pennant number: S121 |
| Status: | Under construction |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Astute-class submarine |
| Displacement: | 7400 tonnes submerged |
| Length: | 97 m (323 ft) |
| Beam: | 11.3 m (37 ft) |
| Draught: | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Propulsion: | Rolls-Royce PWR2 reactor (with full submarine life core), MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators |
| Speed: | 29+ knots (54 km/h) submerged |
| Range: | Only limited by food and maintenance requirements |
| Complement: | 98 officers and men normally, capacity of 109 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
|
| Armament: |
6 x 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes with stowage for up to 38 weapons; |
HMS Artful is the third Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy. Artful was ordered from GEC's Marconi Marine (now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions) on 17 March 1997, and is under construction at Barrow in Furness.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Design
[edit] Nuclear power
Artful's nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25 year service. Since the submarine can replenish her air supply and purify water underway and while submerged, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The submarine's main limitation will be from the three months supply of food carried for the 98 officers and ratings.
[edit] Stealth
The Astute-class Fleet Submarines are designed as the most stealthy Royal Navy submarines in history. Using advanced stealth technology Astute "makes less noise than a baby dolphin, making her as good as undetectable by enemy ships."[3]
[edit] Weapons
Artful will carry a mix of 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes;
- BGM-109 Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles. Range of 1,350 nautical miles (2,500 km).[4]
- Spearfish torpedoes.
[edit] References
- ^ "UK's most powerful submarine joins the Navy". MoD. 27 Aug 2010. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/UksMostPowerfulSubmarineJoinsTheNavy.htm. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ MoD Second Astute Class submarine officially named
- ^ http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/june2007/hunter_killer.html
- ^ Alien submarine breaks technical barriers BBC News. (7 May 2007).
[edit] External links
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