This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/nov/16/commanding-officer-defence-hms-astute
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| In defence of HMS Astute: the commanding officer's statement | In defence of HMS Astute: the commanding officer's statement |
| (5 months later) | |
| I am the commanding officer of HMS Astute, a career submariner with global operational experience in SSNs [nuclear-powered general-purpose attack submarines] and two years' previous command experience in HMS Victorious. Prior to joining the RN I was a skilled mechanical engineer who represented the UK in an international competition. As such I consider myself well placed to comment on the performance and potential of the Astute class and in particular of course, my own submarine. | I am the commanding officer of HMS Astute, a career submariner with global operational experience in SSNs [nuclear-powered general-purpose attack submarines] and two years' previous command experience in HMS Victorious. Prior to joining the RN I was a skilled mechanical engineer who represented the UK in an international competition. As such I consider myself well placed to comment on the performance and potential of the Astute class and in particular of course, my own submarine. |
| HMS Astute is a major step forward in underwater warfare capability and is the most significant single advance in RN submarine technology since the introduction of the nuclear submarine in the 1960s. A nuclear submarine is as complex, if not more so, than the space shuttle and to think that any company or country could build one as advanced as the Astute without there being a natural period of proving and refinement shows a lack of understanding of what is expected from first of a class trials. | HMS Astute is a major step forward in underwater warfare capability and is the most significant single advance in RN submarine technology since the introduction of the nuclear submarine in the 1960s. A nuclear submarine is as complex, if not more so, than the space shuttle and to think that any company or country could build one as advanced as the Astute without there being a natural period of proving and refinement shows a lack of understanding of what is expected from first of a class trials. |
| HMS Astute is a truly awesome submarine with a world-beating potential; her ship's company is second to none and that combination will allow me to take her from the 90% solution we have now to a fully operational platform in relatively short order. | HMS Astute is a truly awesome submarine with a world-beating potential; her ship's company is second to none and that combination will allow me to take her from the 90% solution we have now to a fully operational platform in relatively short order. |
| I have seen the boat outperform anything I have served on in the past and I have yet to operate her in all the submarine war fighting arenas. There are still challenges to overcome but these are not safety related or I would not be at sea with her right now. | I have seen the boat outperform anything I have served on in the past and I have yet to operate her in all the submarine war fighting arenas. There are still challenges to overcome but these are not safety related or I would not be at sea with her right now. |
| RN submariners are a highly professional body of men and, as a submarine captain, I consider myself to be among the best of that body but even I could not inspire 130 men to come to sea with me if they too did not believe in the capability, potential and ultimately the safety of this fantastic submarine. | RN submariners are a highly professional body of men and, as a submarine captain, I consider myself to be among the best of that body but even I could not inspire 130 men to come to sea with me if they too did not believe in the capability, potential and ultimately the safety of this fantastic submarine. |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |