Royal Navy

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Labour ->

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Astute is the first nuclear submarine to be built in the United Kingdom in almost a decade; launched on June 8, she will be commissioned into the Royal Navy in 2009. (BAE Systems photo))

Royal Navy's Biggest and Strongest Attack Submarine Launches in Barrow


(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued June 8, 2007)

The Royal Navy's newest super-submarine, Astute, was launched today, 8 June 2007, by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria.

Astute is the first nuclear submarine to be launched in the UK for almost a decade. She has been built in the UK using the latest and most advanced naval engineering techniques. Construction has been described as more complex than that of the space shuttle.

Far bigger and more potent than the current class of attack submarines, this super stealthy vessel is almost 100m long, and weighs 7,400 tonnes. She will never need to be refuelled and her advanced on-board life support systems mean she can circumnavigate the globe without needing to surface.

Astute's first Commanding Officer, Commander Mike Walliker, believes the size of Astute will not present too many difficulties:

"She is about 2,000 tonnes in displacement greater than a normal submarine but she is about half the size of the Vanguard Class submarines so we're very used to operating submarines of this size. Submariners are all trained to the same high level, whatever boat we're operating and the operation of a boat is broadly the same."

Astute is using a new optronics system which means she is not fitted with the traditional periscope. Commander Walliker does see this as a challenge:

"Not having a periscope will be the biggest challenge for me. We're taking a submarine to sea for the first time with the optronics system and this is a new and unproven capability, but when I say unproven, I mean unproven to the Royal Navy at sea, but it is proven to other navies and so I'm not envisioning problems, but it is a challenge."

Although she is bigger than previous submarines, her crew is actually marginally smaller, with around 98 people required to operate her, 17 less than the Trafalgar Class submarines:

"She is a bigger boat, but with a smaller crew because of the advances with engineering meaning less people are required to maintain her, less people needed in weapons stowage and a general drive to drive down the manpower needed for submarines.

"Nuclear submarines clearly operate at the highest end of the war fighting capabilities of the Armed Forces. At the beginning stages of a conflict Astute could be used for intelligence gathering. She can carry Tomahawk missiles, which can travel 1,000 miles, that can be used at any stage of a conflict for coercion and deterrence.

"And then she can used in support of maritime task groups and act independently as part of the key cornerstone of defence policy, expeditionary warfare."

Although Commander Walliker took command a month ago, he found out he was taking command of Astute nine months ago. He has been taking a keen interest in her progress for over four years:

"I've been living and breathing it for nine months," he explained. "It's a massive privilege to command her. Of my generation it's everyone's dream to command a 1st in Class submarine. I commanded HMS Tireless a few years ago and thought that would be the greatest honour I've ever had, but looking back now it's an incredible thought that we're taking this boat to sea."

Astute will be equipped with advanced cruise missiles and torpedoes which will provide her with more firepower than any previous British attack submarine. Astute will enter service with the Royal Navy in 2009, and will be based in Scotland. She will be a key part of the UK's naval defence forces for the next 25 years. Although she is being launched today, Astute will not actually go to sea for another eight or nine months:

"Between today's launch and the sea trials there is still a significant amount of testing to be done," Commander Walliker continued. "Testing the systems in the water, and we also need to undergo a sustained amount of sea training and practising while the boat is alongside.

"In mid-March next year we are due to begin sea trials, but the key date for me is due to be the end of August 2008 when the boat raises the white ensign for the first time and joins the Royal Navy. After that another 12 months of sea trials are expected."

Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said of today's launch:

"I am delighted to be here to see the launch of Astute. She is the first of a class of hugely impressive vessels which will give the Royal Navy the world class capability it needs to protect the UK and her interests across the globe in the 21st century.

"Astute is a truly remarkable vessel, and her importance cannot be underestimated. I am pleased that through the Maritime Industrial Strategy we are working closely with British industry to ensure that we have affordable, viable, and vibrant submarine design and manufacture skills, both now and in the future."

Astute is the first vessel of four in the Astute class. The other three are AMBUSH, ARTFUL and AUDACIOUS.

In keeping with naval tradition, Astute will become HMS Astute once commissioned and in-service. The ceremony this week launches her as Astute. (ends)



Royal Launch for First of Class Astute Submarine


(Source: BAE Systems; issued June 8, 2007)



BARROW, United Kingdom. --– HRH the Duchess of Cornwall has today named the Royal Navy’s largest and most powerful attack submarine, the first-of-class Astute, before it rolls out of the build hall at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

More than 10,000 people have watched the ceremony today in the 25,000m² Devonshire Dock Hall submarine build complex, the largest building of its kind in Europe. Astute will remain on the shiplift overnight before being lowered into the dock tomorrow.

After the naming ceremony the Duchess met members of the submarine crew and the production workforce before taking lunch with more than 400 guests drawn from the employees, suppliers, the MoD, the Royal Navy and local dignitaries.

The Duchess travelled to Barrow by helicopter, landing at the company’s airfield on nearby Walney Island. The naming of the Astute is her only engagement in the town.

The Astute submarine will set a new standard for the Royal Navy in terms of weapon load, stealth and comfort for the crew. It also employs a new-generation steam-raising nuclear plant which is fuelled for the whole of the vessel’s 25 year operational life.

BAE Systems Submarine Solutions is the prime contractor for the Astute Class, responsible for the design, build and initial in-service support of the four 7,400 tonne vessels - Astute, Ambush, Artful, and Audacious - currently under construction at the shipyard. The fourth submarine, Audacious, was the subject of a £200 million order from the Ministry of Defence announced in May.

The launch has been achieved eight weeks early against the date set in 2003 when the project was rebaselined. Work is on schedule to meet the August 2008 date for delivery of the first of class Astute to the Royal Navy – a stretch target three months ahead of the previously-agreed handover date of November 2008. The in-service date for Astute is January 2009, with subsequent Astute class submarines to be delivered on an agreed 22-month ‘drumbeat’.

Astute is the most capable attack submarines ever operated by the Navy and is designed to fulfil a wider range of strategic roles for more flexible deployment than earlier generations.

The vessel is equipped with the advanced 2076 sonar system which has already proven its class-leading performance on upgraded Trafalgar-class submarines, and is capable of identifying and tracking vessels across thousands of square miles of ocean.

Astute has improved communications systems to support joint operations and an enhanced ability to operate in shallower littoral environments compared with previous classes. The submarine is also the first to replace a conventional periscope with two optical masts incorporating digital video technology that incorporates zoom, low light and infra-red features with an ability to rapidly capture images, analyse them on video screens and transmit images to other fleet elements.

As well as supporting the deterrent and fulfilling anti surface ship and submarine duties, Astute is designed to undertake a range of other tasks including support of land forces, intelligence gathering, and land attack using the latest Tomahawk cruise missiles which can attack targets a thousand miles away with pinpoint accuracy.

Design and construction of the Astute Class is arguably the most challenging engineering project in the UK. It compares in complexity with the space shuttle, involving over a million components and the production of over 7,000 design drawings.

Astute’s state-of-the-art pressurised water reactor is more complex than a nuclear power station, with more restrictions placed upon it: it must be engineered and operated in the knowledge that almost 100 people live and work in close proximity - the submarine commander sleeps less than 10 metres away from the nuclear core.

Once deployed, Astute and can patrol for 90 days, remaining undetected thousands of miles from home and hundreds of metres underwater.

Specialist engineers working on the design of Astute are undertaking a wide range of engineering activities including:

- Nuclear engineering: providing safety and performance improvements to a state-of-the-art pressurised water reactor that is fuelled for life.
- Systems engineering: integrating the thousands of sub-systems that require up to 100km of cabling, 23,000 pipes amounting to10km of pipework, and over 5 million lines of software code – plus managing the supply chain, which includes over 30 main suppliers.
- Marine and mechanical engineering: providing solutions for the propulsive power train, auxiliary systems and life support. Astute must be quiet, vibration-free and robust enough to withstand a nearby underwater explosion.
- Hydrodynamics and control engineering: the design of the submarine hull, hydroplanes and control systems to provide control of depth and good manoeuvrability. The submarine must maintain neutral buoyancy and is literally ‘flown’ underwater.
- Human factors: ensuring that every system is safely operable and maintainable in all conditions by a relatively small complement compared with previous nuclear powered submarines.


BAE Systems is a global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded 13.7 billion pounds sterling (US25.4 billion dollars) in 2006.

-ends-

[cabeça de martelo]

The Royal Navy’s newest super-submarine, Astute, was launched today, 8 June 2007, by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria.

Video: http://www.operations.mod.uk/video/Astute.wmv

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astute_class_submarine

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http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/mya ... lid=436523
http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/mya ... lid=436521
http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/mya ... lid=436517

hms astute in her final docking stage

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NAVAIR Tomahawk Test Team Supports Successful Royal Navy Test


(Source: US Naval Air Systems Command; issued June 26, 2007)



A Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) test team successfully supported a Royal Navy Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile launch, 21 June 2007, from the attack submarine HMS TRENCHANT, underway in the Gulf of Mexico test range operating areas. This was the 454th flight test of a Tomahawk missile.

The missile was launched by the submarine’s torpedo tube launch system. After transitioning to cruise flight, the missile flew a fully guided 500 nautical mile test flight using global positioning satellite and digital scene matching area correlation navigation to a target impact site on the Eglin Air Force Base land test range. Total flight time to target was seventy-five minutes.

While this was a British Royal Navy test event, the U.S. Navy’s Program Executive Office for Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation (PEO (W)) Tomahawk Weapons System Test Directorate, planned and conducted the flight test. However, members of the Royal Navy were integrated into the test team. Lt. Cdr Bruce Cotterill of the Permanent Joint Headquarters staff and Lt Jon Bush of the UK Tomahawk procurement team were attached to the Tactical Training Group Atlantic in Dam Neck, Va. as the strike control team for the test.

The U.K. Tomahawk program began in 1995 with the signing of the foreign military sale agreement between the Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense. Since that time, the U.K. has procured Block III missiles, and is now procuring the torpedo tube variant of Block IV. The scheduled in-service date for U. K. Tomahawk Block IV is May 2008.

When asked to comment, Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Defense Equipment and Support, said, “I’m delighted to announce that this vital trial of the new TLAM Block IV missile has been a great success. These conventionally armed land attack missiles are the most advanced of their type in the world – able to fly further and strike targets with even greater precision. They also incorporate the latest computer technology, giving them the ability to retarget or abort missions in flight and to take their own images of the battlefield.”

“This test is a very significant milestone which gives a tangible demonstration of our ability to deliver precision attack at long range against selected targets. They will give the Royal Navy a world class capability and the ability to pre-position the missile covertly in our attack submarines gives enormous flexibility to our forces,” he continued.

The U.S. Navy was equally pleased. “The Tomahawk Cruise Missile brings enormous capability to the fight,” said Rear Adm. Tim Heely, Program Executive Officer, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation. “As we forge our path to future readiness, putting combat power to sea, it is important that we align our efforts closely with our good friends and allies of the United Kingdom,” he continued.

Several capability enhancements have been realized with the development of Tomahawk Block IV. They include: in-flight retargeting, missile health and status messages, mission planning aboard the launch platform, and battle damage indication messages. Additionally, the program realizes improved affordability with a production cost approximately 50 percent of the cost of a new Block III missile.

As in all Tomahawk flight tests, air route safety was carefully planned in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). For safety purposes, the Tomahawk could have been guided by commands from safety chase aircraft.

The Tomahawk program is managed by the Program Executive Office, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation (PEO (W)) co-located at the NAVAIR complex in Patuxent River, Md. The missile is manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Az. Tomahawk is a registered trademark of the United States Navy.

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Countdown to trials of HMS DARING

'World's most advanced warship' on schedule for trials

The most advanced warship in the world to date, HMS Daring, will depart on her first voyage on 18th July as she
heads out into the Firth of Clyde for sea trials, bang on schedule for delivery by the end of 2008.
The Daring Class Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyer is designed, built and assembled by BAE Systems on the Clyde
with bow sections being towed up from VT Group’s facilities at Portsmouth to be joined to the rest of the hull.
HMS Daring, launched by HRH the Countess of Wessex in February 2006, is the first of class of the most capable
warship of her type ever built. She is due to leave BAE Systems’ Scotstoun yard for the first time to begin sea trails on
18 July.
She will complete her trials off the west coast of Scotland and will be put through her paces by BAE Systems engineers
and Royal Navy personnel, who will form her permanent crew.
Speaking ahead of the sea trials, BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions managing director Vic Emery said; “This is a
very exciting period for BAE Systems, the MoD and the Royal Navy. As a first of class and, more importantly, the most
advanced warship of her type, all eyes will be on HMS Daring as she heads out to sea for the first time.

“The next month will be when we do a lot of fine tuning to what is already a magnificent vessel before finally getting
the opportunity to see exactly what she is made of.
“I’m delighted that the programme to date has been completed on time, on budget and to the customer’s
specification, cementing our commitment to the Type 45 programme and the UK Defence Industrial Strategy.”
Following her sea-trials, HMS Daring will return to the Clyde for on-going integration and testing, prior to hand-over
to the customer by the end of 2008 and entering full service with the Royal Navy in 2009.
The Type 45 programme will provide the Royal Navy with a versatile destroyer capable of contributing to worldwide
maritime and joint operations for much of the first half of this century. As well as providing a specialist air warfare
capability, they will also afford the fleet a general-purpose multi-role platform capable of performing tasks from peace
support and defence diplomacy through to high-intensity warfare.
Key facts - Daring Class Type 45 Destroyer
Displacement c7350 tonnes deep displacement
Length 152.4m
Beam 21.2m
Speed 27 knots+
Range 7000 nautical miles at 18 knots

fonte
DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2007 – 162

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Royal Navy Unveils New 'Smart' Long-Range Submarine Launched Missile


(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued July 3, 2007)



The Royal Navy has today, Tuesday 3 July 2007, released images of its latest high tech 'smart' new Block IV Tomahawk long-range land attack missile in a live firing trial off the United States' coast.

The successful firing clearly demonstrates the huge increase in capability offered by this world class weapon.

The 5,200 tonne attack submarine HMS Trenchant used one of her torpedo tubes to launch the advanced new long-range missile, which then flew over the Gulf of Mexico, striking a target hundreds of miles away with pin-point accuracy.

During the 60 minute test fight the missile reached heights of 10,000 feet (3km) and speeds of 500 miles an hour (805 kmh).

Linked to satellite communication systems, the enhanced weapon will improve the long-range precision punch of the Royal Navy. With up to a third greater range than the current missiles they can hit targets over 1,000 miles (1,609 km) away, can be re-targeted in flight and even send back images of the battlefield to boost intelligence gathering.

Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, said:

"I'm delighted to announce that this vital trial of the new TLAM Block IV missile has been a great success. These conventionally armed land attack missiles are the most advanced of their type in the world - able to fly further and strike targets with even greater precision.

"They also incorporate the latest computer technology, giving them the ability to retarget or abort missions in flight and to take their own images of the battlefield."

He added:

"This test is a very significant milestone which gives a tangible demonstration of our ability to deliver precision attack at long range against selected targets.

"They will give the Royal Navy a world class capability and the ability to pre-position the missile covertly in our attack submarines gives enormous flexibility to our forces."

The Ministry of Defence bought 64 of the all-weather missiles from the United States Government under a £70M contract four years ago.

The unique capability is the result of close co-operation between the US and the UK - the only nation outside the US to have the Tomahawk Block IV.

The missiles will be capable of being fired from our current Trafalgar Class submarines as well as from the new Astute Class submarines when they enter service. Although a US missile, UK firms are playing key roles in providing electronic and submarine upgrades.

The missiles are made by Raytheon in the USA and supplied to the UK under the terms of a Foreign Military Sales case. Raytheon Systems Ltd, at Glenthroes in Fife, manufactures some of the missile electronics.

In addition, some limited upgrade work has been required by our submarine fleet to enable them to launch this enhanced missile; this has been undertaken by BAE Systems and Ultra Electronics in the UK.

The system is due to enter service with the Royal Navy in 2008 and will be used to equip the Royal Navy's existing attack submarines and the new Astute class.

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Ceremony Marks Commissioning for HMS Clyde


(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued July 6, 2007)



HMS Clyde, the first warship to be launched in Portsmouth Naval Base for almost 40 years, was commissioned into the Royal Navy at a ceremony in Portsmouth Naval Base on Thursday 5 July 2007.

Clyde, an 80m-long enhanced River-class ship designed to patrol the waters of the Falkland Islands, has been undergoing trials and sea training since her launch at VT Group's shipbuilding facility in the Base just under a year ago.

The ceremony included a religious service and the cutting of the traditional commissioning cake by Mrs Andrea Hopper, wife of HMS Clyde's Commanding Officer, Commander Simon Hopper, and the youngest member of the 40-strong ship's company, Able Seaman David Maund, aged 22. Music was provided by the Royal Marines Band, Portsmouth.

Guest of honour was Rear Admiral Philip Wilcocks, a Falklands War veteran and now Chief of Staff (Capability) to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet. Also present was the ship's sponsor, Mrs Lesley Dunt, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Peter Dunt (Retired), and the Naval Base Commander, Commodore David Steel. The ceremony was sponsored by VT Shipbuilding and Commodore Sir Donald Gosling RNR.

HMS Clyde's Commanding Officer, Cdr Simon Hopper said:

"I appreciated from day one that the first ship built in Portsmouth for years would be special. But I didn't realise until the naming ceremony what it really meant to the people of the dockyard and businesses in the city and in Portsmouth.

"Clyde is a 21st century ship. Using industry and best practice is the way forward."

HMS Clyde will spend the next few weeks undergoing aviation training, and is due to leave for the Falkland Islands in mid-August 2007 to relieve HMS Dumbarton Castle. She will remain there for at least five years.

Clyde is a highly capable and versatile vessel, with the ability to operate a variety of helicopters from her flight deck. She has air and surface surveillance radars and has a 30mm gun mounting. Besides her normal ship's company, she has accommodation for an embarked military force.

One of the features of the ship is that she is owned and will be maintained by VT Group and chartered to the Ministry of Defence for five years. At the end of that time, the MOD will have the option to extend the charter, return the ship or purchase her outright.

So, without needing to make capital expenditure, the Royal Navy has one modern ship to replace two older vessels – Dumbarton Castle and the former Leeds Castle, the latter having already been decommissioned. Clyde will be able to operate for 282 days of the year, thanks to a system of crew rotation and maintenance carried out in the region with the support of Portsmouth Naval Base.

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http://navy-matters.beedall.com/opvh.htm


HMS CLYDE

[talharim]

Isso sim que é navio patrulha.

Não entendo essa aproximação com os franceses.

[PRick]

Isso sim que é navio patrulha.

Não entendo essa aproximação com os franceses.

Na verdade,

Isto não é um "Navio Patrulha", mas uma OVP ou Fragata de Patrulha. Estes navios são usados para atuarem fora de área, ou seja, fora da plataforma continental dos países de origem. Os franceses também os têm, como as Fragatas Classe Floréal Francesa(foto). São na verdade OVP´s, ou NPO´s(Navios de Patrulha Oceânica), tem o deslocamento de Fragatas, mas possuem armamentos, sensores e propulsão inferiores. Um Navio de segunda em tamanho grande, ou presentes para Netuno em caso de conflito armado. Este tipo de Embarcação é para função administrativa, Polícial ou de Guarda Costeiral.



Os franceses tb chamam estes navios de Fragatas Coloniais. Nada como o imperialismo culto francês.

Para nós Navios Patrulha de 1.000 toneladas já dá e sobra. Não temos colonias ou territórios fora de área como a França e a Inglaterra.

[ ]´s

[P44]

as fragatas FLOREAL , dedicado especialmente ao Velho Talha, esse Francófono impedernido, amante de Croissants e Moet&Chandon

http://www.netmarine.net/bat/fregates/floreal/index.htm



http://www.netmarine.net/bat/fregates/f ... racter.htm

[talharim]

Arrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhh blasfemaram o tópico da Royal Navy.

[talharim]

Imagem dos novos Destróiers Modernos :

Quem será o melhor ? Na minha opinião classe Daring Type 45



Lista de nomes da classe Daring :

HMS DARING

HMS DAUNTLESS

HMS DIAMOND

HMS DRAGON

HMS DEFENDER

HMS DUNCAN


Com certeza haverá Batch2 e Batch 3.Eu aposto em 16 navios no total.

[A.K. for T-7]

as fragatas FLOREAL , dedicado especialmente ao Velho Talha, esse Francófono impedernido, amante de Croissants e Moet&Chandon

http://www.netmarine.net/bat/fregates/floreal/index.htm



http://www.netmarine.net/bat/fregates/f ... racter.htm

Engraçado:

A França chama isso de navio de patrulha, para missões secundárias.

Nós temos quatro praticamente iguais em tamanho e armamento, e aqui são navios principais: as Inhaúma.

[P44]

Com certeza haverá Batch2 e Batch 3.Eu aposto em 16 navios no total.

eu tb aposto de vez em quando no Euromilhões mas tb nunca ganho nada...

Type 45 Daring Class Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers, United Kingdom

The UK Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers are to replace the Type 42 destroyers, in service since 1978. Six ships have been contracted. The requirement was for 12 vessels of the class, but the UK Ministry of Defence announced in July 2004 that this would be cut to eight. The destroyers are to enter service by 2014.

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/horizon/