RN Sub Collision

[vanguard uk]

Reported on ITN Feb 16th

A Royal Navy nuclear submarine has collided with a French vessel in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, according to reports.
The crash between HMS Vanguard and French submarine Le Triomphant, which was also carrying nuclear warheads, is believed to have occurred on February 3 or 4.

Despite being equipped with sonar to detect other vessels, neither submarine apparently realised the other was in the same part of the ocean.

A senior Navy source told a newspaper the potential consequences of such a collision were "unthinkable".

He said: "It's very unlikely there would have been a nuclear explosion. But a radioactive leak was a possibility. Worse, we could have the crew and warheads. That would have been a national disaster."

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) refused to confirm the incident had taken place, saying it was against its policy to comment on submarine operations.

However, a spokesman insisted nuclear security had not been breached.

He said: "We can confirm that the UK's deterrent capability has remained unaffected at all times and there has been no compromise to nuclear safety."

Inquiries are under way on both sides of the Channel.

[u-5075]

There are now a number

There are now a number of news reports coming out........ mostly unofficial comments made off the record.

Here are the more interesting ones.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.as ... ueID=31337


France 'hiding sub damages'


PARIS]http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/world/02/19/ ... -collision[/url]

French navy looking at damage from nuclear sub collision

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Agence France-Presse | 02/19/2009 10]http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/ ... 90220.aspx[/url]

Not So Rare At All
February 20, 2009]http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/ ... 90219.aspx[/url]

Things That Go Bump In The Deep
February 19, 2009]http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/g ... 8_3270.php[/url]

French Submarine Policies Might Have Contributed to Collision
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009

The collision between French and British nuclear-armed submarines this month might have been avoided if France had participated in a NATO system that designates ocean areas for submarine patrols, Time magazine reported Monday (see GSN, Feb. 17).

The two boats, Le Triomphant and the HMS Vanguard, reportedly struck each other in part because neither submarine was aware of the other's presence nearby.

"There is a system for operating areas that are reserved for American, British, Norwegian, Dutch and Canadian communities, and if you want to go into someone's area of influence, you tell them what you are doing," said Julian Ferguson, a retired British submarine commander. "But if you are not in the NATO military structure, you don't have to do that."

France, which plans to re-engage in the structure in April, confirmed that it does not tell anyone where it deploys its missile submarines.

"France does not supply any information regarding the position of its nuclear arms or submarines carrying them because France considers its nuclear arsenal the most vital element in its defense capabilities," said navy spokesman Jerome Erulin.

While the assertion that the submarines were unaware of each other might seem improbable, Ferguson said missile boats tend to patrol in certain areas where environmental conditions improve the likelihood of
concealment.

"There are oceanographic factors in which you can be on either side of an ocean front where the temperature is slightly different on your side than the others," he said. "Where the gulf stream comes across the Atlantic is a prime point of this. Sometimes these barriers can be quite hard -- no sound penetrates at all. And if your business is hiding, then you would hide in that vicinity. There is an added risk that, given the environmental factors, maybe you don't hear another submarine in time to do something about it."

British and French officials held talks beginning in 1994 to improve naval cooperation, but Time could not ascertain whether they resulted in any submarine information sharing.

"The fact that the collision occurred at all indicates that the two allies need to talk more," said nuclear expert Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists (Eben Harrell, Time, Feb. 16).

[u-5075]

Nuclear sub 'caught on camera'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7901838.stm

The

Nuclear sub 'caught on camera'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7901838.stm

The Brits aren't saying or showing much.

Video, but one cannot see apparent damage.

"Scottish CND has filmed what it believes is a damaged Trident nuclear submarine being moved at Faslane. HMS Vanguard had been involved in a collision with a French nuclear sub in the Atlantic."

[junglelord]

Thats why they need widows

Thats why they need widows like the Seaview....running blind.

[big jim]

From today's newspaper.
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/7761/subshit.jpg

From today's newspaper.