HMS Artful - World's largest nuclear submarine

The world's largest nuclear submarine is currently in the United Kingdom. Not only did the US or Russia own the most modern nuclear submarine, but not long ago, the United Kingdom naval forces officially accepted the Astute class nuclear submarine attack worth more than 1.6 billion. dollars named HMS Artful. This is judged by the military as the world's leading modern nuclear submarine with the ability to operate in absolute level and possess a range of advanced weapons that allow Artful to perform tasks almost all over the world.

After leaving the shipyard of BAE Systems, Artful will spend an additional year of trial runs and then 25 years of seabed operation on the British navy. BAE Systems began developing Artful prototypes in 1997 at its headquarters in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Artful is the third in the plan to produce a total of seven staffed Astute-class nuclear attack submarines to serve the Royal Navy. This is the current generation of the world's most modern submarine and is comparable to the Virginia-class nuclear Navy submarine.

Artful has a total length of 96.93 meters with a 11-meter horizontal rib, 10-meter draft and a water penetration of 7400 tons of sea water, equivalent to 65 blue whales combined. Artful uses the Rolls-Royce PWR 2 nuclear reactor capable of generating energy for the whole city of Southampton in England. Not only does this engine allow Artful to reach a speed of 30 knots while diving in the ocean, but it also allows it to operate continuously for 25 years without refueling.

In addition, the oxygen and clean water production system equipped on board allows Artful to easily carry out the journey around the Earth under the seabed for 3 consecutive months with the crew of 98 members. No need to float to the surface.

Artful's combat ability is far more impressive than its life or its size. Astute-class nuclear submarines are the first generation of submarines equipped with an HD image viewing system that transmits fiber optic cable instead of traditional periscope lenses. Artful is equipped with a hydro sound navigation system Sonar 2076 that allows to detect targets 3,000 nautical miles (equivalent to about 5,500km). This system possesses 13,000 underwater stethoscope along the nose, flanks and throughout the hull, more than any other modern sonar system.

About the attacking weapons, Artful is also equipped to the teeth. Artful owns a total of 6 533mm torpedo tubes along with a compartment containing 38 cruise missiles Tomahawk IV and Spearfish heavy torpedoes that meet the need for groundbreaking and attack any target on land. Each Spearfish mine weighs 2 tons and can fire a target 48km away. Tomahawk IV cruise missiles are capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of nearly 450kg and flying at 245m / s with a range of 5,500km.

Artful nuclear submarine was officially launched at the end of 5 years and is scheduled to officially run a sea test in early 2015 along with two previous classmates HMS Astute and HMS Ambush currently serving British navy. Below is a video recording of the Artful launch in May.