-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DxTLSIUnuvc5+fmf3y3XFEEV9tV2URfBDduaeVHp6i16KPpVqnT1U0L/2KuC3d+i
 46318aAUQ2VYAh6abUIWiw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-001575.txt : 20030606
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-001575.hdr.sgml : 20030606
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030605173812
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-001575
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030605
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030606

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CROWTHER H RICHARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201637

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11288
		FILM NUMBER:		03734650

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ACTUANT CORP
		STREET 2:		6100 NORTH BAKER RD
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53209

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ACTUANT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000006955
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISC INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3590]
		IRS NUMBER:				390168610
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6101 N. BAKER RD.
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53209
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4143524160

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6101 N BAKER RD.
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53209

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	APPLIED POWER INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	APPLIED POWER INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19730123
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -2003-06-05
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-05</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000006955</issuerCik><issuerName>ACTUANT CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATU</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001201637</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>CROWTHER H RICHARD</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></
securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>253</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>44.33</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1998-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1998-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>253</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFoll
owingTransaction><value>253</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Outside Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan, the phantom stock units are settled in stock generally following the director's termination of service.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The phantom stock is converted 1 for 1 into shares of Class A Common Stock.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Eric Orsic, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----