HMS ASTUTE Grounding - Service Inquiry Reort

[NickW]

Link http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/7A650..._si_report.pdf to RN report.
I'm surprised that a £1bn submarine still relies on voicepipes to send messages from the bridge to the control room!

Nick

[Peerie Maa]

I'm surprised that a £1bn submarine still relies on voicepipes to send messages from the bridge to the control room!

Nick

It's the only thing that will work if the electrics fail. No moving parts.

[NickW]

It's the only thing that will work if the electrics fail. No moving parts.

If the electrics (inc battery power DC feeds) fail on on a nuclear sub, every thing fails!!

Nick

[Thad]

Isn't everything on such vessels electric, like steering and power, so verbal communication will do little good without power. I know, probably different circuits, but . . . .

[Thad]

You beat me to it Nick

[sailboy3]

Yeah so if everything else fails, the only thing to do for entertainment is exchange bad jokes between the control room and the bridge...

[Mad Scientist]

1 hr 38 min to rig the bridge for surface running?

I've read a few reports of these incidents over the years, and it's almost always the same finding: complacency, and/or a (perceived) need to keep to a schedule.

Tom

[Captain Intrepid]

Isn't everything on such vessels electric, like steering and power, so verbal communication will do little good without power. I know, probably different circuits, but . . . .

Ships have more than one bus, the last one I was on had two. I'm sure a military ship, especially a nuclear sub will have multiple buses and have backups.

[Peerie Maa]

Isn't everything on such vessels electric, like steering and power, so verbal communication will do little good without power. I know, probably different circuits, but . . . .

Main propulsion is steam turbine. There are both AC and DC supplies at anything from 24V up. However if fire or other failure shuts down the control electrics in the control room, why not provide a no working parts back up. It only needs one hull valve and back up hull valve. If it is easy to provide, why not have the insurance?

[Peerie Maa]

Now for some new NEWS, if you are interested there is a nice embedded video here:
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2012/0...ogress-update/
This is more meaty:
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/astute/

[Bob Adams]

I always wondered about the appropriateness of her name, given the situation she wound up in!

[Thad]

Sounded like jet propulsion (electric?) with back up motor (electric?) driven backup retractible propellor. Mentions steering system but not the means, hydraulic? electric? nor the needed power for control. Interesting.