HMS Astute: nuclear submarine beset by design problems and construction failures

One of the Royal Navy’s multi-billion pound nuclear-powered submarines has been beset with catalogue of design problems and construction failures.

HMS Astute, the first of seven new submarines to be built at a cost of £9.75bn, is reportedly too slow, is subject to leaking and is rusty in parts.

The boat, lauded as the most sophisticated Navy submarine, cannot race to emergencies or away from an attack – considered an essential requirement – because it is unable to reach its intended top speed.

It also cannot maintain the more than 30 knot speed with the Navy new aircraft carriers, which the submarines protect, because of what sources described to The Guardian as a "V8 engine with a Morris Minor gearbox".

Other problems reported in recent months include flooding during a routine dive, corrosion in parts – despite being new – nuclear reaction monitoring instruments being the wrong type of lead and concerns the periscope is flawed.

"These problems are much more significant, than the niggles and glitches expected to arise during working up of a new class of nuclear-powered submarine,” said John Large, an independent nuclear safety analyst and specialist engineer.

Since it was first ordered 15 years ago, Astute has been the centre of controversy and is currently four years overdue, about £2bn over budget and not yet in service.

In 2010, it ran aground off the Isle of Skye following a catalogue of errors, causing its commander to be removed from his post.

An MOD spokesman last night insisted the trials had uncovered “teething” problems before it is launched into active duty although no date has yet been set.

“HMS Astute’s sea trials were designed to rigorously test all aspects of the submarine to meet the exacting standards required for operations,” he said

 “It is normal for first of class trials to identify areas where modifications are required and these are then incorporated into later vessels of the class.”

A spokesman for BAE Systems, which is responsible for building the Astute fleet, added: "Safety is of paramount importance to every stage of the design, build, test and trials of a submarine and is at the heart of everything we do.

“Before entering full service, every submarine is required to complete an exhaustive period of sea trials, which are designed to prove the vessel's capabilities.”