Britain Orders Fourth New Nuclear Submarine
Pastor Dale Morgan
Britain Orders Fourth New Nuclear Submarine*
London (AFP) May 25, 2007
Britain's defence ministry said Monday it had placed a 200-million-pound
(295-million-euro, 395-million-dollar) contract to construct a new
nuclear-powered attack submarine, it said Monday. The 7,800-tonne
vessel, to be named HMS Audacious, will be the fourth in the Astute
class of submarines, which are the largest and most powerful of their
type ever built in Britain for the Royal Navy.
Assembly is expected to start later this year at the BAE Systems
shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, north-west England, where three other
Astute class vessels -- Astute, Ambush and Artful -- are already under
construction.
The defence equipment and support minister Lord Paul Drayson said in a
statement: "Today's announcement demonstrates our commitment to the
attack submarine programme...
"It also demonstrates our commitment to the Royal Navy, which needs
these submarines to fulfil its duties around the globe."
HMS Astute is to be launched next month, said First Sea Lord Admiral Sir
Jonathon Band.
The Astute class submarines will replace the two Swiftsure and seven
Trafalgar class vessels that have been in service since the 1970s and
1980s respectively.
They will be equipped with improved communications systems to support
joint operations and an enhanced ability to operate in shallower coastal
waters.
Astute class boats have a maximum dived displacement of 7,800 tonnes,
are 97 metres (318-feet) long, have a crew of 98 and will be equipped
with Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
They will carry more of these weapons than existing submarines.
The order comes amid opposition to government proposals to renew
Britain's Trident missile nuclear deterrent, which is carried by four
Vanguard class submarines.
Source: Agence France-Presse