‘As Quiet As a Baby Dolphin’: The Royal Navy’s Astute-Class Submarine Is One of the Best on Earth and Actually Compares to a US Navy Nuclear Virginia-Class Sub

‘As Quiet As a Baby Dolphin’: The Royal Navy’s Astute-Class Submarine Is One of the Best on Earth and Actually Compares to a US Navy Nuclear Virginia-Class Sub

Two NATO navies, two nuclear attack submarines, one argument. Britain's Astute class, built by BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, displaces 7,800 tons, carries 38 weapons, dives past 980 feet, wears 39,000 anechoic tiles, and is called by the Royal Navy the quietest submarine ever built; six have been built since HMS Astute was laid down in 2001. America's Virginia class displaces 7,900 tons, carries a 135-strong crew and Tomahawks in vertical tu…