Attack nuclear submarines are not equipped with strategic nuclear missiles and are not used to perform strategic nuclear strike missions.
Instead, they mainly use submarine-launched tactical missiles and torpedoes with various conventional warheads as their main weapons and are used to perform tasks such as search, escort and attack. Clear the channel for aircraft carrier battle groups, surface ship formations, strategic missile submarines or mobile sea formations, as well as strategic campaign reconnaissance, maritime escort, and destruction of enemy lines of communication.
The noise of an attack nuclear submarine can be “submerged” in the background noise of the vast ocean when the noise drops to about 90 decibels, which cannot be detected by contemporary sonar.
Today, the author will introduce the British top nuclear submarine, the Astute-class attack nuclear submarine, because the names of this class of boats all start with the letter “A,” and this class of boats is also called A-type submarine, which is the latest level of tactics under the British Royal Navy Attack nuclear submarines.
The astute-class attack nuclear submarine has a full-load displacement of 7,400 tons. Seven ships are planned to be built, three are in service, and four are under construction. They are built by the British BAE system Barrow-in-Furness shipyard. The first three astute-class ships were signed in 1997. The total value of the construction contract was nearly 2 billion pounds.
However, due to several design changes, technical processes, rising costs, inflation, and the huge expenditure of the British troops stationed in Iraq, by 2008, the smart-level plan had exceeded the budget by 48% (about 1.2 billion GBP), the schedule delay amounted to 47 months.
As of November 2009, due to a number of technical and program management issues, the Astute class was behind schedule by 57 months, with a total cost overrun of 53% (£1.35 billion).
The basic hull design of the Astute-class attack nuclear submarine is roughly similar to that of the Trafalgar class. It continues to use the modified sperm whale hull, but its length and width are increased, and its submerged displacement is enlarged to about 7,400 tons to carry a more powerful power system and More weapons.
The detailed shape of the Astute-class hull is very smooth and simple, and the shape of the sail cover is similar to that of the Vanguard-class strategic nuclear submarine. They are all tapered upwards to reduce the noise and resistance encountered during navigation.
The surface of the Astute-class hull is also covered with sound-proof tiles that can isolate its own noise and reduce the echo of the enemy’s active sonar.
This type of submarine has a very long service life and can never float up during its 25-year service period. Of course, this will exclude the daily needs of the service personnel in the submarine. The astute-class nuclear submarine detection system is so advanced that it is reported that the astute class can detect cruise ships in New York Harbor from the English Channel. The distance between them is about 3000 miles. Known as a “floating SGCC.”
A total of 7 “Smart” class submarines are planned to be built. The first batch of submarines includes 4 “Smart,” “Ambush,” “Smart,” and “Brave.” Built at the Shipyard. The first “Smart” class submarine, “Smart,” was officially launched in August 2007.
However, in October, the “Smart” ran aground off the coast of the Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland. Later, some minor incidents occurred due to improper towing by the rescue boat. The British Navy spent more than a month to repair the damage.
