History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Artful
OrderedMarch 1997
BuilderBAE Systems Submarine Solutions
Laid down11 March 2005[1]
Launched17 May 2014[1]
Sponsored byLady Zambellas
Christened20 September 2013
Commissioned18 March 2016
IdentificationPennant number: S121
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeAstute-class fleet submarine
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 7,000 to 7,400 t (7,300 long tons; 8,200 short tons)[2][3]
  • Submerged: 7,400 to 7,800 t (7,700 long tons; 8,600 short tons)[2][3]
Length97 m (318 ft 3 in)[2][3]
Beam11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)[2][3]
Draught10 m (32 ft 10 in)[2][3]
Propulsion
Speed30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph), submerged[2][3]
RangeUnlimited[4]
Endurance90 days[4]
Test depthOver 300 m (984 ft 3 in)
Complement98 (capacity for 109)[2]
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

HMS Artful is the third Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the British Royal Navy. She is the second submarine of the Royal Navy to bear this name. Artful was ordered from GEC's Marconi Marine (now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions) on 17 March 1997, and was constructed at Barrow in Furness.[7] She was named on 20 September 2013, was rolled out of the shipyard construction hall on 16 May 2014, and was due to start sea trials in early 2015.[8] Artful made her first successful basin dive in October 2014,[9] and sailed on 13 August 2015 for sea trials.[10] Artful was handed over the Royal Navy on 14 December 2015,[11] and commissioned on 18 March 2016.[12][13][14]

Design

Propulsion

Artful's nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25-year service. Since the submarine can purify water and air, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The main limit is that the submarine will only be able to carry three months' supply of food for 98 officers and ratings.

Armament

Artful has provision for up-to 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.[15] The submarine is capable of using Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres)[16] and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

Common Combat System

Artful is the first Astute-class submarine to utilise the Common Combat System, which will be fitted on every Astute, Vanguard and Dreadnought-class submarine. The Common Combat System was originally meant to be first tested on the fourth Astute boat, Audacious, but the system was completed ahead of time.[17][18]

Operational history

In May 2021, Artful joined UK Carrier Strike Group 21 on its seven-and-a-half month-long maiden operational deployment to the Far East.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b "Artful (6135609)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-1904459552.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Astute-class attack submarines". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b "BAE Systems - Astute class submarines". baesystems.com. BAE Systems. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  5. ^ Kuperman, Alan; von Hippel, Frank (10 April 2020). "US study of reactor and fuel types to enable naval reactors to shift from HEU fuel". International Panel on Fissile Materials. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  6. ^ "UK's most powerful submarine joins the Navy". Ministry of Defence. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Second Astute Class submarine officially named". Ministry of Defence. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Third Astute submarine named Artful". Ministry of Defence. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  9. ^ "First successful dive for new nuclear submarine HMS Artful during trials in Cumbria". Navy News. Royal Navy. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Third Astute submarine Artful sets sail for sea trials". BBC News. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Third Astute submarine formally handed over to the Royal Navy". Ministry of Defence. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  12. ^ "HMS Artful becomes a commissioned warship". Royal Navy. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  13. ^ "HMS Artful commissioned in Royal Navy ceremony". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Third Astute submarine Artful to join Royal Navy fleet". BBC News. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  15. ^ "Alien submarine breaks technical barriers". BBC News. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  16. ^ "United States Navy Fact File: Tomahawk Land Attack Missile". navy.mil. US Navy. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  17. ^ "HMS Artful test fires first torpedo using new UK-made advanced Combat System". Royal Navy. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Royal Navy's newest sub test fires torpedo using £50 million UK-made advanced Combat System". Ministry of Defence. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  19. ^ "Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth Drills with Indian Navy Ahead of More Pacific Exercises". United States Naval Institute. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.

External links

Astute-class submarines
Commissioned ships of the Royal Navy
Categories