Dates: 2007 -

HMS Astute (S119) is the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered Fleet submarines. Astute was ordered from GEC’s Marconi Marine (now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions) on 17 March 1997. She was laid down on 31 January 2001, 100 years to the day since the keel was laid down for Holland 1, the first Royal Navy submarine. The vessel was built at BAE’s submarine facility in Barrow and was launched on 8 June 2007 by The Duchess of Cornwall.

Astute is the second submarine of the Royal Navy to be named for the characteristic of shrewdness and discernment. The first was HMS Astute (P447), an Amphion class submarine launched during World War II. When commissioned, Astute will be one of the most advanced submarines in the world.

HMS Astute was launched at BAE’s submarine facility in Barrow-in-Furness on 8 June 2007 by The Duchess of Cornwall and the vessel is due to be handed over to the Royal Navy in August 2008. The launch attracted more than 10,000 spectators. She is the first submarine built in the UK since HMS Vengeance, which was launched in 1998.
The launching of Astute was 43 months behind schedule, and the Astute class were ?900 million over budget. This was due in part to outdated construction practices. Many of these were corrected when Murray Easton became construction boss. Among the changes to accelerate the project, psychologists were consulted to improve communication and management effectiveness. He also reduced manpower requirements by using US construction methods, specifically those of the Electric Boat company. For example, submarine sections were built vertically so that gravity could assist assembly.

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Astute

" Quoting: Arthur Rowsell Gooday Allan, Noisy as ever. Glad that you are enjoying the life of the Gypsy. Had a hedgehog, wrapped in clay and thrown into the fire coals? It is lovely tucker.... The jokes are bad but it is good to hear that you are kicking along and enjoying life. Want some ..."

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" The Financial Times says: The first of a new generation of nuclear submarines being built by BAE Systems, the defence contractor, is likely to miss its in-service date due to continuing problems with the £3.8 billion programme, the Government has admitted. It is expected that the handover of HMS ..."

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" A fire broke out on board a nuclear-powered submarine  on Saturday afternoon as 20 people were working on it, the Ministry of Defence has said.  The blaze took place in the conning tower of HMS Astute, which is being built by BAE Systems in Barrow, Cumbria.  The workers were ..."

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"I bet the Commander of HMS Astute wishes HE was in outer space just now. I can hear a pipe on the tannoy, "Navigators yeoman to the bridge". Or do they have navs yeos on sun dodgers? "

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" Quoting: James Mac Seoras Blair I bet the Commander of HMS Astute wishes HE was in outer space just now. I can hear a pipe on the tannoy, "Navigators yeoman to the bridge". Or do they have navs yeos on sun dodgers? James. Do they have a Spec savers branch in Sky?. Or a Job centre?. "

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