Royal Navy nuclear submarine damaged after hitting rocks

[SO19]

Royal Navy nuclear submarine damaged after hitting rock in Red Sea
Michael Evans, Defence Editor

A Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine on a training mission in the Red Sea was damaged when it hit a submerged rock on Monday, the Ministry of Defence said last night.

Although the nuclear reactor was unaffected and none of the 112 crew was hurt, HMS Superb, a 4,900-tonne Swiftsure class “hunter killer” submarine, suffered extensive damage to her sonar equipment.

Investigators began an inquiry into how a submarine with sophisticated equipment could strike a rock which would have been marked on the chart. Commander Steve Drysdale, the commanding officer, was forced to surface pending a decision on where the boat should go for repairs.

A spokesman for the MoD said it was likely that an inquiry would be held. Whenever a submarine is grounded, officers responsible for navigation are liable to face court martial.

The last time a Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine grounded was in 2002. Two senior officers on HMS Trafalgar were reprimanded.

HMS Superb is capable of carrying Tomahawk missiles, but it was not clear whether she was armed with them at the time.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 015738.ece