Express Edition: five out of six British submarines are being repaired
In the past, Britain was called the mistress of the seas. Such an honorary “title” was deserved, since the Royal Navy ensured the presence of the state in many regions and allowed maintaining order in numerous colonies. To date, the naval potential of Great Britain has seriously declined. Moreover, recently it became known about new problems. fleet.
3 in May, the British edition of Express published an article: Don't tell Moscow: five out of six British submarines are being repaired. As the name implies, this material describes the difficult situation in the submarine forces of the Royal Navy. For various reasons, the vast majority of UK multi-purpose nuclear submarines are currently unable to perform combat missions.
Express authors begin their article with a stunning news: Only one UK multipurpose nuclear submarine can patrol and carry out the tasks assigned to it. The rest of the underwater "hunters" are under repair for various reasons and, as a result, are not yet able to participate in the full-fledged combat work of the fleet.
At the moment, the situation in the submarine forces of the Royal Navy is as follows. One multi-purpose submarine is combat-ready, another has a lot of problems, and the remaining four are under repair. Similar news about British submarines appeared just a few days after receiving news from Finland.
Recall, on the night of Tuesday 28, April, the Finnish Navy discovered an unidentified underwater object in the territorial waters of the country. The object was attacked using depth charges, but such a blow did not produce any results. Shortly after the incident, Finnish Defense Minister Karl Haglund announced that an unidentified object could be a Russian submarine. No evidence of this version, however, was cited.
At the moment, the situation with the British multi-purpose submarines is as follows. The only combat submarine of this class in the Royal Navy is currently HMS Astute. Last year, this boat went on duty and, after a short break, is again ready to perform tasks.
Sistership of the submarine HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, while performing the functions of a training ship. Shortly after the start of operation, 57 of various defects were identified, and shipbuilding experts are now working to eliminate them. After fixing all the shortcomings, the HMS Ambush submarine will be able to go to sea for the first time on patrol.
Astute class submarines are the main hope of the Royal Navy. At the moment, it is planned to build a series of six such submarines. To date, the fleet received the first two boats, four more are at different stages of construction. In addition, the construction of the seventh submarine is being discussed. Each Astute class submarine will cost the treasury about one billion pounds. The project uses the latest technology aimed at improving the combat qualities. In particular, it is claimed that submarines of this type will be able to detect targets at a distance of 3 thousand nautical miles. This means that a submarine stationed in the British Devonport will be able to detect a ship located near American New York. New British submarines are armed with Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles and Spearfish heavy torpedoes.
The construction of the Astute class of submarines, the Express edition reminds, was associated with certain difficulties. The first three submarines of this type were ordered in the 1997 year, but the lead ship was transferred to the fleet only in the 2010. The second boat, HMS Ambush, began service in the 2013 year. Due to similar delays in the construction of new nuclear submarines, the command of the Royal Navy is forced to keep outdated ships in service. In parallel with two new Astute class boats, four Trafalgar class submarines are being operated.
In the fleet there are submarines HMS Torbay, HMS Trenchant, HMS Talent and HMS Triumph. The first was handed over to the fleet at the start of 1987, the last to the fall of 1991. Enough old ships need increased attention and regular repairs aimed at extending the service life. According to existing plans, submarines of the Trafalgar class will be gradually withdrawn from the fleet as they are built and new ships are received. So, HMS Torbay is scheduled to be written off in the 2017 year.
According to the Express edition, the current situation with the Trafalgar-type submarines is as follows. The HMS Trenchant and HMS Triumph submarines are being renovated and upgraded with the installation of some new equipment, which will take a long time. HMS Torbay submarine repair is coming to an end, thanks to which it will be returned to service within the next three months.
With reference to a source in the Ministry of Defense, the British edition reports that at the present time many of the ships available to the fleet can perform combat missions, but are located in ports. In particular, the port is located submarine HMS Talent. March 13 This submarine, interrupting patrols, returned home. The reason for the return was damage to the horizontal rudder as a result of a collision with an iceberg. According to Express, the submarine currently in need of repair stands in a port with a steering wheel covered with a tarpaulin. In such a state, obviously, she cannot serve and perform patrols.
A source in the military noted that the current state of the submarine forces is not a serious problem. Talk about any problems should be if the only combat submarine was located on the coast of Libya or to the east of the Suez Canal. In this case, the Royal Navy could not conduct patrols in the North Sea and the surrounding region. The main objective of the British submarines, as follows from the words of the source of the publication Express, is to search for Russian submarines operating at a short distance from the UK.
Also in the article by RUSI Peter Roberts, senior scientist of RUSI, gives the article: This analyst claims that the return of the HMS Talent submarine with damage broke all the Department of Defense’s plans to deploy submarine forces. Even the most advanced submarine (meaning the only service carrier HMS Astute) cannot be and perform tasks in several places at once. Now, according to P. Roberts, the British military will have to rely on allies who can ensure the security of the country. This situation is a serious cause for concern.
As we see, the situation in the submarine forces of the Royal Navy of Great Britain leaves much to be desired. The fleet has six multipurpose nuclear submarines, but only one of them is able to patrol specific areas and search for underwater or surface targets. Thus, the former "mistress of the seas" now has naval forces with seriously limited capabilities.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that in the near future the situation may seriously change. Over the next three months, the HMS Astute submarine, which is still under repair, should join the only HMS Astute multi-purpose submarine. As far as is known, the HMS Talent submarine, which had collided with an iceberg, did not receive any particularly serious damage, so that repairs could also be carried out in the next few months. Finally, active work is underway to eliminate the identified shortcomings of the newest submarine HMS Ambush.
Thus, by the end of this year - with a favorable set of circumstances and the absence of new unforeseen problems - the United Kingdom can partially restore the existing grouping of multi-purpose nuclear submarines. As a result, instead of one submarine, three or four will be able to participate in duty at once. Two more boats should return to service after repairs and upgrades over the next few years.
In general, at the moment the situation with the British multi-purpose submarines looks complicated, but not fatal. In addition, it can be considered a very unfortunate coincidence. First, as the submarine fleet struck, delays in the construction of new submarines, and then unsuccessfully "intertwined" planned and unplanned repairs of various ships. As a result, the old submarines are on long-term repairs, while one of the new ones cannot fully solve the tasks assigned to it. To all this, HMS Talent’s collision with an iceberg and the need to repair it were added.
Without resorting to any emergency measures, the UK Department of Defense may remedy the situation for some time. To do this, you should continue the planned repair of submarines standing at the docks, as well as keep fine-tuning the last of the built submarines. Thus, in the future, the submarine forces of the Royal Navy will be able to restore their potential. However, until this is done, the British press is left with a reason for alarming or even panicky publications.
The article on the repair shed:
http://express.co.uk/news/uk/574556/Britain-only-one-nuclear-submarine-active-patrol-defects-defence-fleet
3 in May, the British edition of Express published an article: Don't tell Moscow: five out of six British submarines are being repaired. As the name implies, this material describes the difficult situation in the submarine forces of the Royal Navy. For various reasons, the vast majority of UK multi-purpose nuclear submarines are currently unable to perform combat missions.
Express authors begin their article with a stunning news: Only one UK multipurpose nuclear submarine can patrol and carry out the tasks assigned to it. The rest of the underwater "hunters" are under repair for various reasons and, as a result, are not yet able to participate in the full-fledged combat work of the fleet.
At the moment, the situation in the submarine forces of the Royal Navy is as follows. One multi-purpose submarine is combat-ready, another has a lot of problems, and the remaining four are under repair. Similar news about British submarines appeared just a few days after receiving news from Finland.
Recall, on the night of Tuesday 28, April, the Finnish Navy discovered an unidentified underwater object in the territorial waters of the country. The object was attacked using depth charges, but such a blow did not produce any results. Shortly after the incident, Finnish Defense Minister Karl Haglund announced that an unidentified object could be a Russian submarine. No evidence of this version, however, was cited.
At the moment, the situation with the British multi-purpose submarines is as follows. The only combat submarine of this class in the Royal Navy is currently HMS Astute. Last year, this boat went on duty and, after a short break, is again ready to perform tasks.
Sistership of the submarine HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, while performing the functions of a training ship. Shortly after the start of operation, 57 of various defects were identified, and shipbuilding experts are now working to eliminate them. After fixing all the shortcomings, the HMS Ambush submarine will be able to go to sea for the first time on patrol.
Astute class submarines are the main hope of the Royal Navy. At the moment, it is planned to build a series of six such submarines. To date, the fleet received the first two boats, four more are at different stages of construction. In addition, the construction of the seventh submarine is being discussed. Each Astute class submarine will cost the treasury about one billion pounds. The project uses the latest technology aimed at improving the combat qualities. In particular, it is claimed that submarines of this type will be able to detect targets at a distance of 3 thousand nautical miles. This means that a submarine stationed in the British Devonport will be able to detect a ship located near American New York. New British submarines are armed with Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles and Spearfish heavy torpedoes.
The construction of the Astute class of submarines, the Express edition reminds, was associated with certain difficulties. The first three submarines of this type were ordered in the 1997 year, but the lead ship was transferred to the fleet only in the 2010. The second boat, HMS Ambush, began service in the 2013 year. Due to similar delays in the construction of new nuclear submarines, the command of the Royal Navy is forced to keep outdated ships in service. In parallel with two new Astute class boats, four Trafalgar class submarines are being operated.
In the fleet there are submarines HMS Torbay, HMS Trenchant, HMS Talent and HMS Triumph. The first was handed over to the fleet at the start of 1987, the last to the fall of 1991. Enough old ships need increased attention and regular repairs aimed at extending the service life. According to existing plans, submarines of the Trafalgar class will be gradually withdrawn from the fleet as they are built and new ships are received. So, HMS Torbay is scheduled to be written off in the 2017 year.
According to the Express edition, the current situation with the Trafalgar-type submarines is as follows. The HMS Trenchant and HMS Triumph submarines are being renovated and upgraded with the installation of some new equipment, which will take a long time. HMS Torbay submarine repair is coming to an end, thanks to which it will be returned to service within the next three months.
With reference to a source in the Ministry of Defense, the British edition reports that at the present time many of the ships available to the fleet can perform combat missions, but are located in ports. In particular, the port is located submarine HMS Talent. March 13 This submarine, interrupting patrols, returned home. The reason for the return was damage to the horizontal rudder as a result of a collision with an iceberg. According to Express, the submarine currently in need of repair stands in a port with a steering wheel covered with a tarpaulin. In such a state, obviously, she cannot serve and perform patrols.
A source in the military noted that the current state of the submarine forces is not a serious problem. Talk about any problems should be if the only combat submarine was located on the coast of Libya or to the east of the Suez Canal. In this case, the Royal Navy could not conduct patrols in the North Sea and the surrounding region. The main objective of the British submarines, as follows from the words of the source of the publication Express, is to search for Russian submarines operating at a short distance from the UK.
Also in the article by RUSI Peter Roberts, senior scientist of RUSI, gives the article: This analyst claims that the return of the HMS Talent submarine with damage broke all the Department of Defense’s plans to deploy submarine forces. Even the most advanced submarine (meaning the only service carrier HMS Astute) cannot be and perform tasks in several places at once. Now, according to P. Roberts, the British military will have to rely on allies who can ensure the security of the country. This situation is a serious cause for concern.
As we see, the situation in the submarine forces of the Royal Navy of Great Britain leaves much to be desired. The fleet has six multipurpose nuclear submarines, but only one of them is able to patrol specific areas and search for underwater or surface targets. Thus, the former "mistress of the seas" now has naval forces with seriously limited capabilities.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that in the near future the situation may seriously change. Over the next three months, the HMS Astute submarine, which is still under repair, should join the only HMS Astute multi-purpose submarine. As far as is known, the HMS Talent submarine, which had collided with an iceberg, did not receive any particularly serious damage, so that repairs could also be carried out in the next few months. Finally, active work is underway to eliminate the identified shortcomings of the newest submarine HMS Ambush.
Thus, by the end of this year - with a favorable set of circumstances and the absence of new unforeseen problems - the United Kingdom can partially restore the existing grouping of multi-purpose nuclear submarines. As a result, instead of one submarine, three or four will be able to participate in duty at once. Two more boats should return to service after repairs and upgrades over the next few years.
In general, at the moment the situation with the British multi-purpose submarines looks complicated, but not fatal. In addition, it can be considered a very unfortunate coincidence. First, as the submarine fleet struck, delays in the construction of new submarines, and then unsuccessfully "intertwined" planned and unplanned repairs of various ships. As a result, the old submarines are on long-term repairs, while one of the new ones cannot fully solve the tasks assigned to it. To all this, HMS Talent’s collision with an iceberg and the need to repair it were added.
Without resorting to any emergency measures, the UK Department of Defense may remedy the situation for some time. To do this, you should continue the planned repair of submarines standing at the docks, as well as keep fine-tuning the last of the built submarines. Thus, in the future, the submarine forces of the Royal Navy will be able to restore their potential. However, until this is done, the British press is left with a reason for alarming or even panicky publications.
The article on the repair shed:
http://express.co.uk/news/uk/574556/Britain-only-one-nuclear-submarine-active-patrol-defects-defence-fleet
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