Royal tour of Astute

Last updated 15:21, Friday, 24 October 2008

HRH on Astute's casing with Commander Mike Walliker MIKE VALLANCE

IT was a proud moment for Barrow as the Duchess of Cornwall stepped on board the Royal Navy’s largest and most powerful submarine - HMS Astute.
Her Royal Highness named the first of class Astute submarine last June in front of more than 10,000 people at BAE System’s shipyard in Barrow, but yesterday’s visit was a more personal occasion.
After a private tour of the vessel with its captain, Commander Mike Walliker, the Duchess met members of the crew, BAE Systems personnel and their families at a reception near where the submarine is moored. Wearing the Astute emblem brooch she was presented with at the launch, the Duchess took time to meet every one of the 100-plus guests at the reception.
Isobel Wylie, six, a pupil at Pennington Church of England School, was one of the first guests to greet the Duchess and handed her a posy.
Isobel’s father, Commander Ian Wylie, is Astute’s second in command.
His wife, Amanda, of Spark Bridge, said: “Astute is a huge engineering feat. It’s nice to celebrate the achievements of the crew
and company. Everyone has been working together so closely so it’s nice to see the vessel looking in such a fantastic state. It’s a real achievement.”
Design and construction of the Astute class has been described as “more complex than the space shuttle”, involving over one million components and the production of 7,000 design drawings.
The 7,400-tonne submarine - the equivalent of nearly 1,000 double-decker buses - is one of the most sophisticated hunter killer class submarines in the world.
The Duchess visited Astute’s accommodation, galley and weapons storage compartments during her one-hour tour with Commander Walliker.
Speaking at the reception, he said: “She thought it was incredibly complex, which it is, and she was really quite surprised with how far towards going to sea we really are now.”
Astute is currently undergoing testing and commissioning of the thousands of systems on board the nuclear powered vessel, which
is recognised as one of the most complex engineering projects in the world.
She is one of four nuclear-powered submarines - including Ambush, Artful and Audacious - currently under construction at the shipyard.
Astute will leave Barrow next year for sea trials before going into service with the Royal Navy.
Chief marine engineer, Ian Wharrie, could spend up to three months at a time on Astute. He introduced his pregnant wife, Kerry, to the Duchess along with his sons Max, six, and Oskar, five.
“It has been a wonderful occasion to attend,” said the 38-year-old. “It’s the first time I’ve met the Duchess and she asked how long Kerry has to go, which is six weeks.
“She said she really enjoyed seeing the submarine and she said she saw the bunk space, and didn’t realise how small it was.”
While on board, the Duchess was allowed to press the “fire” button to release a slug of water from a torpedo tube to simulate a shot.
“She thought it was great,” said Commander Walliker.
She also received a cheque for £2,922.25, raised by the crew for the Barnardo’s charity, of which she is patron, and presented the ‘Man of the Boat’ award to warrant officer medical assistant James Drew for his outstanding contribution over the past year.
Extending an open invitation to the Duchess, Commander Walliker said: “This is the Duchess of Cornwall’s submarine.
“The ship’s company may spend two years on board but she’s the sponsor throughout its life, which is 25 years.
“At the launch, Murray Easton made a point of giving the Duchess a pass and told her she was welcome to visit whenever she wanted.
“This has been a credit to everybody, as well as every member of the ship’s company, and it’s been enjoyable to at least shake her hand. She’s been brilliant with the children and talked to everybody.”
Summing up the occasion, head of commercial for Astute class, Lesley Dixon, from Barrow, said: “I think it’s great for morale, for the area in general, as well as the workforce.”