Nuclear submarine HMS Astute 'grounded on rocks'

Tabnabs

The Royal Navy's newest and largest attack submarine HMS Astute has got into difficulty off Skye, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

An eye-witness said the sub - described as the stealthiest ever built in the UK - appeared to be grounded on rocks.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: "This is a not a nuclear incident.

"We are responding to the incident and can confirm that there are no injuries to personnel and the submarine remains watertight."
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The spokeswoman added: "There is no indication of any environmental impact."

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it was alerted to the incident at about 0819 BST.

A spokesman said they were monitoring the situation.

HMS Astute is believed to have been undergoing sea trials as it is not expected to enter service until next year.

Aside from attack capabilities, it is able to sit in waters off the coast undetected, listening to mobile phone conversations or delivering the UK's special forces where needed.

The 39,000 acoustic panels which cover its surface mask its sonar signature, meaning it can sneak up on enemy warships and submarines alike, or lurk unseen and unheard at depth.

The submarine can carry a mix of up to 38 Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes and Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise missiles, able to target enemy submarines, surface ships and land targets, while its sonar system has a range of 3,000 nautical miles.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11605365

sellerbarry

I have to laugh. It can do all that and it still grounded on rocks.:D Must have been a lady driver.

tac foley

'......while its sonar system has a range of 3,000 nautical miles.'

But sadly, it can't detect a bunch of rocks right in front of you...

and...

The spokeswoman added: "There is no indication of any environmental impact", but the sub has made a 'great impact' on the rocky island and undoubtedly left a lasting impression.

The captain is now in deepest smelly brown stuff.

He has total responsiblity for this fiasco.

tac

Fratton Fred

oops.

Sorry sir, tis only a scratch:D

reminds me of the HMS Nottingham fiasco

who the fug

sellerbarry wrote: »

I have to laugh. It can do all that and it still grounded on rocks.:D Must have been a lady driver.

NO wimmen on subs

Tabnabs

Maybe the officers and crew of HMS Trafalgar got a new boat?

Bring back the old days of MN navigators for the RN

tac foley

Fratton Fred wrote: »

oops.

Sorry sir, tis only a scratch:D

reminds me of the HMS Nottingham fiasco

Now that's a grand piece of parking there.

tac

iceage

Some P38 and a half dozen tins of matt black paint should sort it.

NUTLEY BOY

It is all part of the cutbacks. You ground the vessel, wreck it, collect the insurance money and don't replace it.

It is a new variation on the Asgard II syndrome where you collect after the accident and don't replace.:mad:

OS119

NUTLEY BOY wrote: »

It is all part of the cutbacks. You ground the vessel, wreck it, collect the insurance money and don't replace it.

It is a new variation on the Asgard II syndrome where you collect after the accident and don't replace.:mad:

don't fancy paying the premiums on a £1bn platform!

i doubt its a scrapping issue - a) there's no serious damage, and b) Astute is one of the programs the government is most enthusiastic about, even going ahead with a 7th boat when all considered it likely it wouldn't be ordered.

the_syco

This came to mind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWFd-2_f-NE

But seriously, I don't see the problem. They're doing trials. Maybe testing how shallow the water can be, and the tide probably went out. It's better to these tests in your own back yards, than on the coast of Youran whilst listening to their phone conversations...

Steyr

Whoops!!! :eek:

Someone will get the P45 fairly soon.

Delancey

Many, many years ago a young U.S. Naval Officer in his first command ran his ship aground causing not insignificant damage - he was court martialled and found to be responsible for the incident.

That young officer was called Chester Nimitz and that ' blemish ' did not prevent him from becoming CINCPAC and one of the U.S. Navy's very few 5 star ' Fleet Admirals '.

There's still hope for the captain of H.M.S. Astute

spider guardian

good thing it wasn't beached in Mayo or the locals might have sparked an incident

http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11146:killer-whale-body-defaced-by-chainsaw&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

tac foley

delancey42 wrote: »

There's still hope for the captain of H.M.S. Astute

I still think he should start reading 'Farmer's Weekly'.

tac

Black Swan

sellerbarry wrote: »

I have to laugh. It can do all that and it still grounded on rocks.:D Must have been a lady driver.

No, contrary to your stereotyping, only men ran it aground.

who the fug wrote: »

NO wimmen on subs

The US Navy will have women serving on subs in 2011.

Source: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/22/women-to-begin-serving-on-u-s-submarines/

Rented Mule

spider guardian wrote: »

good thing it wasn't beached in Mayo or the locals might have sparked an incident

http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11146:killer-whale-body-defaced-by-chainsaw&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

It would have to be one mighty chainsaw.

spider guardian

Twin-blades

Black Swan

"HMS Astute?" Should they rename the sub?

johngalway

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

"HMS Astute?" Should they rename the sub?

"HMS Arthur"





(on the rocks)

whynotdo

even though the actual facts about this incident are hard not to be amused at,it is i suppose a serious incident,still..................:)

Bluelagoon just wondering do Women consider Ships being called "She" offensive or a tearm of endearment?

It is to do i admit more to do with the remaining Space Shuttle flights being called "She" despite a Memo from NASA to call the Shuttles by name or "it" rather than "She",i ask.
Since most to do with the Shuttle are now ignoring the Memo and once again calling the Orbiters "She", I am genuinely curious do Women find it offensive?

FarmerGreen

Shame, social embarrassment, hauled in to explain..........

Morning Hoskins, take a seat.
Remember that submarine I gave you command of for sea trials?
Yes the big one, the nice shiney 1.5 billion quids worth.
The one that you stuffed into Scotland?

Well never mind these things happen eh?
Anyway, me and the lads, the other Lords of the Admiralty have had a bit of a whip round for your next command.

A puncture repair outfit. Use it wisely.

Off you go then.

whynotdo

FarmerGreen wrote: »

Shame, social embarrassment, hauled in to explain..........
Morning Hoskins, take a seat.
Remember that submarine I gave you command of for sea trials?
Yes the big one, the nice shiney 1.5 billion quids worth.
.

Lol Farmer,Have You ever read about Mountbatton?(I ashamed to be Irish how He was killed)

Still He was a Jinx every Vessel He ever was given command of got sank,each time He was promoted to a larger ship!

Black Swan

whynotdo wrote: »

Bluelagoon just wondering do Women consider Ships being called "She" offensive or a tearm of endearment?

I live on a boat in Newport Beach harbour and "she" is beautiful. So if I bring a lad home, would you call that a threesome?

FarmerGreen

whynotdo wrote: »

Lol Farmer,Have You ever read about Mountbatton.
Still He was a Jinx every Vessel He ever was given command of got sank,each time He was promoted to a larger ship!

Yes.
Never mind, its a part of our history now.
Maybe they thought a bigger one would slow him down a bit.

whynotdo

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

I live on a boat in Newport Beach harbour and "she" is beautiful. So if I bring a lad home, would you call that a threesome?

Ha Blue, i love 'the battle of the sex's' in a humourful way! PC can get so crazy, can i be "the lad?":)

whynotdo

FarmerGreen wrote: »

Maybe they thought a bigger one would slow him down a bit.

Well He can't get any slower than He is now for sure!:)
no offence meant to anybody just My version of 'black humour'

Black Swan

Ooooooo, I like the military forum! It's a target rich environment.

whynotdo wrote: »

Ha Blue, i love 'the battle of the sex's' in a humourful way! PC can get so crazy

Vive la différence!

whynotdo wrote: »

can i be "the lad?":)

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable" (Sun Tzu).

whynotdo

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Ooooooo, I like the military forum! It's a target rich environment.

No pun intended there? right?;)

Vive la différence!

Indeed beats the hell out of Me why Women sometimes feel the need to defend Feminity,It is such a beautiful thing,and the first place 'Tough Guys' turn to in times of trouble.

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable" (Sun Tzu).

Thats What My Mother Hillary Clinton says all the time:)

Black Swan

whynotdo wrote: »

Indeed beats the hell out of Me why Women sometimes feel the need to defend Feminity

LOOK OUT for friendly fire!

Back on topic...

"Future for women sailors? Female submariners could be allowed in the Royal Navy on vessels such as the HMS Astute, a nuclear hunter killer submarine."

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1253546/Women-set-serve-submarines-Britain-follows-U-S-Navy-ruling.html

whynotdo

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

LOOK OUT for friendly fire!

:D:D

Back on topic...

"Future for women sailors? Female submariners could be allowed in the Royal Navy on vessels such as the HMS Astute, a nuclear hunter killer submarine."

seems like it will have to be submarines at least short term.UK announced sweeping cuts to its spending during the week,seems like they will not have an Aircraft carrier for at least four years,whilst the old are retired and the new are built,as i understood it,or the other way around may'be.

Labour leader Ed Miliband criticised the ‘capability gap’ that resulted from scrapping the current Navy flagship HMS Ark Royal and the Harrier fleet.

‘Can you also reassure the House that the best strategic decision for the next decade is for Britain to have aircraft carriers without aircraft, which is the decision you have announced today?’ he asked.

The prime minister said Mr Miliband should have begun his response ‘with one word – sorry’.

‘Sorry for the £38billion overspend in the MoD, sorry that they left more civil servants than we had sailors or airmen, sorry for the £2.3billion they spent on refurbishing the Ministry of Defence and sorry for the completely unsustainable promises that they made.’

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/844517-defence-cuts-will-leave-42-000-without-a-job

Burnt

Commander Coles of HMS Astute has been relived from his post

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11853493