24 NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2009
Astute
reactor
Tireless efforts
goes
live
POWER range testing of HMS
reap rewards
Astute’s nuclear reactor means the
boat has ‘gone live’ – and brings
her first trip ‘home’ a little closer.
WHILE submarine HMS Tireless
The reactor trials started undergoes extended maintenance
in September, and are among in Devonport, members of her
the final battery of tests to be
crew have been setting themselves
undertaken before Astute leaves
challenges ashore.
the BAE Systems yard at Barrow-
An 11-strong team was the only
in-Furness for sea trials.
RN entry in the annual Nijmegan
Capt John Corderoy,
Marches in the Netherlands, the
Superintendent Fleet
biggest event of its kind in the world.
maintenance at Clyde Naval
Taking place over four days and
Base, said: “Starting power range
covering 166km, the event – which
testing is a significant milestone
began in 1909 – attracts military and
and a fantastic achievement for
civilian teams from across the globe.
all those involved with the Astute
PO Bailey set up the team, which
programme.
started training with a gentle 15-mile
“Clyde’s ‘readiness to receive
stroll along the Plym Valley cycle
Astute’ has been checked by our
path on a wet February morning and
regulator and we are ‘good to go’.
quickly built up to an 80km practice
“I have now no doubt that
march at RAF Cosford carrying the
HMS Astute will be up here
required 10kg deadweight plus food
this year, and soon we will be at
and water – winning an award in the
the start of a busy and exciting
process.
period as we learn more about
They then upped the pace until
the submarine and work with
they were ready to join their 840 or so
● Team Tireless carries the White Ensign at the Nijmegan Marches in the
BAE to support her through her
British compatriots – the largest of all
Netherlands
sea trials period.”
foreign military contingents – at the
Astute and her sisters are
Closer to home, 16 senior and There were also disaster exercises
opening ceremony, with LS Helyer
powered by the new Core H
junior rates travelled to the Brecon and a transit through ‘Dark Element’
leading them in.
reactor, which is designed to last
Tireless was one of the last teams
Beacons for a stint of Command – a pitch-black 800m disused railway
for the boats’ 25-year life span to leave, but overcame the heat and
Leadership and Management (CLM) tunnel.
without the need for expensive and humidity to reach the end of day one
training in the great Welsh outdoors. With the formal part of the course
technically-complex refuelling. intact – 473 of the 40,645 entrants
They arrived at Tal-y-Bont with a over, the deeps ‘relaxed’ with caving,
The new class of hunter-killer dropped out on the first day, with a
fair bit of preparation behind them, climbing and kayaking, while an
boats will use a purpose-built further 1,784 the next day.
and there was no time to hang about evening at the local pub brought an
jetty at Faslane. Tireless saw two members fall by
– having left Plymouth early on unexpected treat as Wales and Lions
The £150 million 200- the wayside with injuries, but with
Monday morning, by early afternoon rugby star Andy Powell chatted to
metre Valiant Jetty was built sapping heat and humidity followed
they were undertaking a navigation them on a range of subjects including
at Greenock on the Clyde and by heavy rain, the team sang songs
exercise high above a reservoir. the importance of excellent leadership
towed around a dozen miles to to maintain morale – the ‘Voice of
The rest of the week saw a on the recent tour to South Africa.
Faslane in May this year. Tireless’ caused many a civvy team to
combination of tough physical All these new skills, teamwork and
Although designed specifically look over their shoulders then move
challenges (climbing and hiking with the much-extolled grit will now be
for Astutes, Valiant Jetty can also aside for the deeps to march through.
backpacks is not natural submariner applied to the regeneration process
handle the Navy’s other classes Day four proved particularly
territory) along with mental stimulus, as Tireless emerges from the hands
of conventionally-armed nuclear
● CLM training at Tal-y-Bont brings a smile to the faces of
gruelling, but the submariners dug deep
including the need to deliver a five- of the technicians and prepares for a
submarines, the S and T-boats.
sailors from HMS Tireless
to finish and collect their medals. minute presentation.
return to operations next year.
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