Fifth Astute-class submarine undergoes milestone test
As well as the Astute Class, BAE Systems is delivering the Dreadnought submarines for the Royal Navy. (Photo: BAE Systems)
BAE Systems has announced its fifth Barrow-built Astute-class submarine, named Anson, successfully submerged beneath the surface of the water while the crew tested onboard systems.
The exercise proved the safety and stability of the 7,400t, 97m-long attack submarine.
Commander David ‘Bing’ Crosby, Commanding Officer of Anson, said: ‘This [trim dive] will enable us to set the boat’s internal weight, prove her water-tight integrity, test sensors and put some of our systems through their tests’.
During a trim dive, the submarine is submerged 15m to complete a number of tests, the most essential of which is to help establish the vessel’s centre of gravity and precise weight.
More than 60 crew embers were on board as part of the exercise, which saw tonnes of ballast taken aboard to assist in testing the vessel’s stability.
HMS Astute, HMS Artful, HMS Ambush and HMS Audacious are already in service. The sixth and seventh submarines, Agamemnon and Agincourt, are at different stages of construction at the Barrow shipyard.
More from Naval Warfare
-
General Dynamics Electric Boat wins Virginia-class submarine supply contract
General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) has been awarded a $517.2 million delivery order against a previously issued basic agreement for procurement and delivery of initial Virginia-class attack submarine spare parts to support maintenance availabilities.
-
L3Harris Technologies awarded $212 million contract for Royal Australian Navy's maritime underwater tracking ranges
L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a contract valued at A$328 million ($212 million) for the delivery of new Maritime Underwater Tracking Ranges (MUTR) to the Royal Australian Navy as part of SEA1350 Phase 3.
-
Pakistan Navy renewal gathers pace as new OPV launched
The launch of the first of a new pair of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Pakistan Navy (PN) on 12 September indicates an acceleration in the modernisation of the service as it introduces new ships into service.
-
Can a new operational profile fix Canada's submarine problem?
The four Victoria-class diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs) of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) are in the midst of an evolution into a new operations and maintenance regime. Shephard investigates whether this will solve the navy's recurring issues with having only one boat (or even none) operational for long periods.
-
Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Marinette Littoral Combat Ship commissioned
The latest USN Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the Freedom-class USS Marinette (LCS 25) was commissioned on 16 September. It will be homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.
-
DSEI 2023: SEA launches high-performance countermeasures system for surface platforms
UK ship protection specialist SEA has unveiled Ancilia, a trainable decoy launcher system designed to provide rapid and effective protection against missile, including hypersonic, and torpedo threats to surface vessels.