Design
Further information: Astute class submarine#CharacteristicsBuilt as a successor to the Trafalgar class, Astute is 50% bigger than the T boats but has a smaller crew. The 7,400-tonne Astute'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 crew.
Astute has stowage for 38 weapons and would typically carry both Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles, the latter costing £870,000 each. The Tomahawk missiles are capable of hitting a target to within a few metres within a range of 1,240 miles (over 2,000 km).
Read more about this topic: HMS Astute (S119)
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