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Astute vs Type 214

Astute submarine side profile drawing
🇬🇧 Astute
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Specifications
Astute Type 214
Origin 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇩🇪 Germany
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered attack submarine Diesel-electric attack submarine
Manufacturer BAE Systems Submarines Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW)
Year introduced 2010 2007
Number built 6 units 16 units
Estimated unit price $2,112 million $330 million
Displacement 7,400 tons 1,690 tons
Maximum speed 10.0 knots 12.0 knots
Range Unlimited 12,000 nm
Length 97.0 m 65.0 m
Beam 11.3 m 6.3 m
Crew 98 27
Max depth 300 m 400 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Astute Type 214
Armament
  • 6 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles
  • Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes
  • 8 × 533 mm torpedo tubes (4 capable of firing Sub-Harpoon missiles)
  • Heavyweight torpedoes and naval mines
Propulsion 1 × Rolls-Royce PWR2 nuclear reactor; MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators Diesel-electric with fuel cell air-independent propulsion (AIP)

Overview

The Astute and the Type 214 are both Submarine classes.

The Astute displaces 7,400 tons — 4.4x the Type 214's 1,690 tons. The Astute reaches 10 knots vs 12 knots for the Type 214. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Astute vs 12,000 for the Type 214. The Astute carries a crew of 98 vs 27 for the Type 214. Submerged displacement is 7,800 tons for the Astute vs 1,860 tons for the Type 214. The Type 214 can dive to 400 m compared to 300 m for the Astute.

The Astute was produced in 6 units vs 16 for the Type 214. Cost per hull is $2,112M for the Astute vs $330M for the Type 214. The Astute was commissioned in 2010, 3 years after the Type 214 (2007).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Astute-class or Type 214-class?
The Astute-class has greater displacement at 7,400 tons compared to the Type 214-class's 1,690 tons.
Which is faster, the Astute-class or Type 214-class?
The Type 214-class is faster with a maximum speed of 12 knots compared to the Astute-class's 10 knots.
Which has longer range, the Astute-class or Type 214-class?
The Astute-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Type 214-class has a range of 12,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Astute-class or Type 214-class?
The Astute-class is longer at 97.0 meters compared to the Type 214-class's 65.0 meters.
How many crew members do the Astute-class and Type 214-class have?
The Astute-class has a larger crew complement of 98 compared to the Type 214-class's 27 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Astute-class or Type 214-class?
The Type 214-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 400 meters compared to the Astute-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Astute-class or Type 214-class?
The Astute-class is more expensive at approximately $2.1 billion per unit compared to the Type 214-class at $330 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Astute-class or Type 214-class?
The Type 214-class has been built in greater numbers with 16 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Astute-class.