ASTUTE Nearly – The Fleet Submarine ASTUTE has been carrying out warm water and other trials at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Centre on Andros Island (Bahamas) and off the USA Eastern Seaboard as the vessel gears up to making a first operational patrol towards the end of this year (2013).     It is the second stint of trials in the region for the first of the ASTUTEs, the first being over the winter of 2011-12 in these same waters, including sparring with the American Virginia Class USS NEW MEXICO during the trials deep diving, and fired TOMAHAWK missiles (four) and SPEARFISH torpedoes, with the ASTUTE clocking up 16,400 miles during the deployment.   This time around, the ASTUTE focused on warm weather tests – sea temperatures of 25˚C, rather than the more usual 10˚C (on the Clyde) – and other capability trials ahead of her operational handover.

The ranges off Andros Island (south west of Nassau) are centred on a 6,000ft deep natural phenomenon, the Tongue of the Ocean, a huge deep-water bowl carved out of coral reef, which resembles the Rolling Stones’ famous tongue logo.   The “tongue” is crammed with sensors and hydrophones to record reams of data on how well a submarine is performing.    Once the trials in the Western Atlantic are completed, ASTUTE is due to return to Faslane, and following a period of operational sea training – required of any submarine (or ship) preparing to deploy – the ASTUTE be available for front line duties.