Hello everyone, you are watching another episode of Military TV.
In today’s session, we will take a look at the most dangerous submarine outside the U.S.
If you are curious to the answer, stayed tunned only at this channel!
There has been generally known that the most dangerous submarine in the world is owned by
the U.S navy. However, it is important to note that there is also another country with the
submarine as dangerous as the U.S does, that is the Royal navy’s one known as the Astute class.
The British Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet
submarines is likely to be the most advanced weapon outside the States.
First and importantly, the Astute class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines has
been in operation with the Royal Navy since 2010. The submarines' development started
in 2001 and is still ongoing until now. BAE Systems Submarines and Barrow-in-Furness have
built five vessels so far, four of them are active and two more are under construction.
Let’s take a look at this submarine in more detail.
The Astute class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines in service
with the Royal Navy. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarines at
Barrow-in-Furness. This ship was commissioned in 2010 and declared fully operational in May 2014.
In regard to the design, the submarines have a surface displacement of 7,000 to 7,400 tonnes
and a submerged displacement of 7,400 to 7,800 tonnes, with a length of 97 meters and a beam
of 11.3 meters. Each submarine is powered by a Rolls-Royce PWR 2 nuclear reactor that can
provide an indefinite range. When submerged, the top speed of the vessel is stated to be 30
knots and has a typical capacity of 98 personnel. However, there is still plenty of practical issues
that limit the range of this military vessels. For instance, her endurance is only limited by
the amount of food that can be stored. Therefore, Astute submarines typically make 90 days missions.
The following are several points to mark the superiority of this submarine.
First, their armament in combination with the top-class systems, makes the
submarines very advanced and versatile on the battlefield. The submarine is especially quiet,
and that makes it stealthy enough to perform unexpected attacks on enemy fleets.
This submarine is also fitted with the advanced Sonar 2076 that can easily detect
enemy submarine and ships and this sonar is claimed as the world’s best sonar system
Moreover, the Astute class are the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines
ever operated by the Royal Navy. The class have provision for up-to 38 weapons in six
21-inch torpedo tubes. Additionally, the submarines are capable of using Tomahawk
Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.
In the first part of 2012, they proved their ability to prepare and launch Tomahawk missiles,
successfully firing 2 missiles from the Gulf of Mexico
and accurately hitting the targets on the test range in Northern Florida.
In addition, the Astute class nuclear powered submarines have the capability to circumnavigate
the globe without surfacing, limited only by their food storage capacity. Able to deploy rapidly,
they are powered by a nuclear reactor that can run for their 25 year lifespan without refuelling.
It can be said that the British government has made it a priority to improve the Royal Navy's
capabilities, and the Astute-class is an important part of the country's naval strategy. For all of
the above-mentioned reasons, the Astute class fleet submarines are the most powerful outside
the U.S and it's also sure that the Royal Navy will keep this superiority for many years to come.
That’s all for today, thanks for watching and see you next time!