This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7892294.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Nuclear subs 'collide in ocean' | Nuclear subs 'collide in ocean' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Royal Navy nuclear submarine was involved in a collision with a French nuclear sub in the middle of the Atlantic, it has been reported. | A Royal Navy nuclear submarine was involved in a collision with a French nuclear sub in the middle of the Atlantic, it has been reported. |
| It is understood HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant were badly damaged in the crash in heavy seas earlier this month. | It is understood HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant were badly damaged in the crash in heavy seas earlier this month. |
| Despite being equipped with sonar, it seems neither vessel spotted the other, the BBC's Caroline Wyatt said. | Despite being equipped with sonar, it seems neither vessel spotted the other, the BBC's Caroline Wyatt said. |
| The UK's Ministry of Defence is not commenting on the reports, but insisted nuclear security had not been breached. | The UK's Ministry of Defence is not commenting on the reports, but insisted nuclear security had not been breached. |
| Our defence correspondent said HMS Vanguard, with "very visible dents and scrapes", had to be towed back into its home base at Faslane on the Firth of Clyde. | Our defence correspondent said HMS Vanguard, with "very visible dents and scrapes", had to be towed back into its home base at Faslane on the Firth of Clyde. |
| Sonar dome | Sonar dome |
| The reported incident is being investigated on both sides of the Channel. | The reported incident is being investigated on both sides of the Channel. |
| The two submarines are key parts of each nation's nuclear deterrent, and would have been carrying missiles, though both the UK and France have insisted there was no danger of a nuclear incident. | The two submarines are key parts of each nation's nuclear deterrent, and would have been carrying missiles, though both the UK and France have insisted there was no danger of a nuclear incident. |
| HMS VANGUARD Launched in 1992One of four British submarines carrying Trident nuclear missilesWeighs 16,000 tonnes, 150m (492ft) longCan carry 48 nuclear warheads on a maximum of 16 missiles A two-year refit was completed in 2007 as part of a £5bn contractDue to be replaced in 2024 | HMS VANGUARD Launched in 1992One of four British submarines carrying Trident nuclear missilesWeighs 16,000 tonnes, 150m (492ft) longCan carry 48 nuclear warheads on a maximum of 16 missiles A two-year refit was completed in 2007 as part of a £5bn contractDue to be replaced in 2024 |
| The two 150m-long (492ft) submarines were carrying around 240 sailors between them. A French naval spokesman said the collision did not result in any injuries to the crew. | The two 150m-long (492ft) submarines were carrying around 240 sailors between them. A French naval spokesman said the collision did not result in any injuries to the crew. |
| Le Triomphant is based at L'Ile Longue near Brest, north-west France. HMS Vanguard arrived back in Faslane on Sunday night. | Le Triomphant is based at L'Ile Longue near Brest, north-west France. HMS Vanguard arrived back in Faslane on Sunday night. |
| France's defence ministry said in a statement, dated 6 February, that Le Triomphant "collided with an immersed object (probably a container)" when coming back from patrolling. | |
| "The sonar dome, at the front, was damaged. This incident did not cause any injuries among the crew and did not threaten the nuclear security at any time," it said. | "The sonar dome, at the front, was damaged. This incident did not cause any injuries among the crew and did not threaten the nuclear security at any time," it said. |
| "The submarine came back by its own means to L'Ile Longue, escorted by a frigate, as it is the usual practice when leaving or coming back." | "The submarine came back by its own means to L'Ile Longue, escorted by a frigate, as it is the usual practice when leaving or coming back." |
| 'Large ocean' | 'Large ocean' |
| Politicians have demanded more information on the alleged incident. | Politicians have demanded more information on the alleged incident. |
| Lib Dem defence spokesman Nick Harvey has called for an immediate internal inquiry with some of the conclusions made public. | Lib Dem defence spokesman Nick Harvey has called for an immediate internal inquiry with some of the conclusions made public. |
| "While the British nuclear fleet has a good safety record, if there were ever to be a bang it would be a mighty big one," he said. | "While the British nuclear fleet has a good safety record, if there were ever to be a bang it would be a mighty big one," he said. |
| LE TRIOMPHANT Launched in 1994One of four French ballistic missile nuclear-powered submarines (SSBN)Displacement (submerged) 14,000 tonnes, 138m (452ft) longCan carry 16 ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads110 crew, including 15 officersSubmerged speed over 25 knots | LE TRIOMPHANT Launched in 1994One of four French ballistic missile nuclear-powered submarines (SSBN)Displacement (submerged) 14,000 tonnes, 138m (452ft) longCan carry 16 ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads110 crew, including 15 officersSubmerged speed over 25 knots |
| "Now that this incident is public knowledge, the people of Britain, France and the rest of the world need to be reassured this can never happen again and that lessons are being learned." | "Now that this incident is public knowledge, the people of Britain, France and the rest of the world need to be reassured this can never happen again and that lessons are being learned." |
| Meanwhile, SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson has called for a government statement. | Meanwhile, SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson has called for a government statement. |
| "The Ministry of Defence needs to explain how it is possible for a submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction to collide with another submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction in the middle of the world's second-largest ocean," he said. | "The Ministry of Defence needs to explain how it is possible for a submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction to collide with another submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction in the middle of the world's second-largest ocean," he said. |
| The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament described the reported collision as "a nuclear nightmare of the highest order". | The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament described the reported collision as "a nuclear nightmare of the highest order". |
| CND chair Kate Hudson said: "The collision of two submarines, both with nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons onboard, could have released vast amounts of radiation and scattered scores of nuclear warheads across the seabed." | CND chair Kate Hudson said: "The collision of two submarines, both with nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons onboard, could have released vast amounts of radiation and scattered scores of nuclear warheads across the seabed." |