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Oxygen device sparked sub blast Oxygen device sparked sub blast
(about 2 hours later)
An explosion on a submarine which killed two British sailors was caused by an emergency oxygen device, the US military has said.An explosion on a submarine which killed two British sailors was caused by an emergency oxygen device, the US military has said.
The men died on board the Devonport-based nuclear submarine HMS Tireless during an operation under the Arctic icecap.The men died on board the Devonport-based nuclear submarine HMS Tireless during an operation under the Arctic icecap.
The submarine surfaced through the ice after the blast off Alaska. A third sailor was airlifted to a US military hospital in Anchorage. He is expected to make a full recovery.
A third sailor was airlifted to a hospital in Anchorage. He is expected to make a full recovery. A Board of Inquiry has begun into the accident on Wednesday morning.
Air-purification equipment, known as a self-contained oxygen generation candle, was the source of the blast, the US authorities said. US authorities said air-purification equipment, known as a self-contained oxygen generation candle, was the source of the blast.
The nuclear reactor of HMS Tireless was unaffected and the ship itself was not in danger, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. 'No nuclear danger'
It had been taking part in a joint British-American exercise under the Arctic ice cap. A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said its use on other vessels has been restricted as a precaution until safety checks were carried out.
Vice Admiral Jay Donnelly, commander of the US Submarine Force, said: "I am deeply saddened at the loss of the crew members from the Tireless. Oxygen candles are fitted to all Trafalgar-class submarines.
The former First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West, told Radio 4's Today programme there had been no previous problems with the equipment.
"These particular oxygen generators, they're a secondary system. There's another, the primary system, that produces oxygen all the time; and there's one forward and one aft," he said.
"A new type was produced and fitted, I think, to Tireless in about 2001 or something like that and the same type is fitted across the fleet.
"These ones, these particular new ones, nothing has happened with them up to date. They replaced a much older system that really stemmed from the second world war which there had been problems with, which is why we out these new ones in."
The nuclear reactor of HMS Tireless was unaffected and the ship itself was not in danger, the MoD said.
The submarine had been taking part in a joint British-American exercise under the Arctic ice cap.
Vice Admiral Jay Donnelly, commander of the US submarine force, said: "I am deeply saddened at the loss of the crew members from the Tireless.
"Submariners are brothers at sea and we all feel the loss as if it were our own. We stand by to continue to assist in any way we can.""Submariners are brothers at sea and we all feel the loss as if it were our own. We stand by to continue to assist in any way we can."
The accident took place on board the Trafalgar-class submarine, which does not carry nuclear missiles, on Wednesday morning. The families of both dead sailors have been told.The accident took place on board the Trafalgar-class submarine, which does not carry nuclear missiles, on Wednesday morning. The families of both dead sailors have been told.
A MoD spokesman said the piece of equipment which malfunctioned was fitted to all Trafalgar class submarines.
He said its use on other boats had been restricted until safety checks could be carried out.
Oxygen candles are emergency devices that create oxygen through a chemical reaction. Some devices burn at high temperatures during the reaction.
Tomahawk missilesTomahawk missiles
Oxygen candles are emergency devices that create oxygen through a chemical reaction. Some devices burn at high temperatures during the reaction.
HMS Tireless was launched in 1985. The piece of air-purification machinery thought to have failed was fitted as part of an update in 2001.HMS Tireless was launched in 1985. The piece of air-purification machinery thought to have failed was fitted as part of an update in 2001.
The submarine is the third of seven "Trafalgar" Class SSN submarines in the Royal Navy, and usually carries of crew of 130. The submarine is the third of seven Trafalgar-class SSN submarines in the Royal Navy, and usually carries of crew of 130.
All Trafalgar class submarines are armed with five tubes capable of firing Tomahawk missiles. All Trafalgar-class submarines are armed with five tubes capable of firing Tomahawk missiles.
The MoD will now hold an investigation, known as a Board of Inquiry, to prevent a reoccurrence of the tragedy and to see what lessons can be learned.The MoD will now hold an investigation, known as a Board of Inquiry, to prevent a reoccurrence of the tragedy and to see what lessons can be learned.