No 4. Astute Class – UK
| Units built | 7 planned |
| Active | 1 |
| Speed | 29 knots |
| Endurance | 90 days |
| Range | Effectively unlimited |
| Weapons carried | Tomahawk cruise missiles; Harpoon anti-ship missiles in place of torpedoes6 x 533-mm bow tubes for 36 Spearfish torpedoesOR
Mines in place of torpedoes |
The Astute class is the largest and most powerful nuclear attack submarines of the Royal Navy. It can carry a whopping 38 torpedoes at once and is home to a state-of-the-art pressurized water reactor. The class has been described as being even more complex than a space shuttle.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgeBTQkw4EI[/youtube]
No 3. Seawolf Class – USA
| Units built | 3 |
| Active | 3 |
| Speed | 18 knots – Surfaced35 knots – Submerged |
| Endurance | ? |
| Range | Effectively unlimited |
| Weapons carried | 8 x 660-mm torpedo tubes for 50 torpedoes or cruise missiles
OR Up to 100 mines in place of torpedoes or missiles |
The Seawolf is a better and faster intended replacement for the Los Angeles class. Some budget constraints led to the cancelling of the full fledged production of the Seawolf class and only 3 could be completed.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwYpjwOwL4Q[/youtube]
