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FATAL SUB EXPLOSION: VERDICT BY CHRISTMAS
TRISTAN NICHOLS MARITIME AND DEFENCE REPORTER
07:30 - 08 October 2007
A report into an explosion which killed two men on a city-based nuclear-powered submarine will be made public by the end of the year.An emergency oxygen device is believed to be responsible for the explosion on board HMS Tireless. The Herald has learned that a Ministry of Defence board of inquiry is to announce its findings within two months.
Leading Operator Mechanic Paul McCann, aged 32, and Submariner Anthony Huntrod, aged 20, were killed in the early hours of Wednesday, March 21, as the submarine took part in an exercise in the Arctic.
The incident happened while she was submerged under the Arctic ice cap during a joint British-American exercise.
Initial findings into the tragedy were expected in July. However, the inquiry is said to be "extensively" testing the equipment.
MoD spokesman, Commander Mark Durkin, told The Herald: "The board of inquiry has not reported back yet and we are still awaiting the outcome of the board before acting further. They are doing some fairly extensive testing of equipment to discover what exactly happened.
"It is about a month or two away from reporting back."
At the time of the incident, LOM McCann had submitted his formal notice to leave the Navy with the intention of marrying his American fianc??e and moving to the United States.
Immediately after the explosion MoD chiefs ordered an embargo on all Royal Navy submarines - preventing crewmen from using the emergency oxygen device.
The piece of equipment which is believed to have caused the explosion is fitted to all Trafalgar-class submarines.
The step was taken as a precautionary measure while the on-board investigation was carried out.
All other nations operating submarines which are fitted with the same equipment were also told of the incident.
Calls were also made for an as-yet-unidentified submariner to be honoured for his bravery after he risked his life fighting a fire on the submarine following the explosion which killed two of his comrades.
The submariner put out fires to allow emergency services access.
HMS Tireless resumed her operational duties earlier this week, visiting Portland Port in Portland, Weymouth following a period of training.
She was the first submarine from the 'silent service' for 15 years to visit the area.
The submarine's new Commanding Officer, Commander Ed Ahlgren, said of the visit: "HMS Tireless and her ship's company have all been looking forward to this visit. They all deserve it after being the host submarine during a very intensive period on the famous submarine commander's training course called Perisher.
"The students have to be put through the most demanding and testing of courses in order that we have the very best future commanders in charge of our submarines."
tnichols@ eveningherald.co.uk
TRISTAN NICHOLS MARITIME AND DEFENCE REPORTER
07:30 - 08 October 2007
A report into an explosion which killed two men on a city-based nuclear-powered submarine will be made public by the end of the year.An emergency oxygen device is believed to be responsible for the explosion on board HMS Tireless. The Herald has learned that a Ministry of Defence board of inquiry is to announce its findings within two months.
Leading Operator Mechanic Paul McCann, aged 32, and Submariner Anthony Huntrod, aged 20, were killed in the early hours of Wednesday, March 21, as the submarine took part in an exercise in the Arctic.
The incident happened while she was submerged under the Arctic ice cap during a joint British-American exercise.
Initial findings into the tragedy were expected in July. However, the inquiry is said to be "extensively" testing the equipment.
MoD spokesman, Commander Mark Durkin, told The Herald: "The board of inquiry has not reported back yet and we are still awaiting the outcome of the board before acting further. They are doing some fairly extensive testing of equipment to discover what exactly happened.
"It is about a month or two away from reporting back."
At the time of the incident, LOM McCann had submitted his formal notice to leave the Navy with the intention of marrying his American fianc??e and moving to the United States.
Immediately after the explosion MoD chiefs ordered an embargo on all Royal Navy submarines - preventing crewmen from using the emergency oxygen device.
The piece of equipment which is believed to have caused the explosion is fitted to all Trafalgar-class submarines.
The step was taken as a precautionary measure while the on-board investigation was carried out.
All other nations operating submarines which are fitted with the same equipment were also told of the incident.
Calls were also made for an as-yet-unidentified submariner to be honoured for his bravery after he risked his life fighting a fire on the submarine following the explosion which killed two of his comrades.
The submariner put out fires to allow emergency services access.
HMS Tireless resumed her operational duties earlier this week, visiting Portland Port in Portland, Weymouth following a period of training.
She was the first submarine from the 'silent service' for 15 years to visit the area.
The submarine's new Commanding Officer, Commander Ed Ahlgren, said of the visit: "HMS Tireless and her ship's company have all been looking forward to this visit. They all deserve it after being the host submarine during a very intensive period on the famous submarine commander's training course called Perisher.
"The students have to be put through the most demanding and testing of courses in order that we have the very best future commanders in charge of our submarines."
tnichols@ eveningherald.co.uk