HMS TRAFALGAR

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HMS Trafalgar started her sea trials today according to the MOD about one week late, after that incident at the Isle Of Skye. What caused this delay? eleven sailors where to stressed to sail, all say ahhhhhhhh. Makes you wonder just what the forces are coming to.

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Surely the fact that the RN takes these matters (PTSD) seriously is an indication of the professionalism of the service, rather than the "softening up" as you imply?

Nuclear sub begins sea trials

Apr 25 2004



A major sea trial of a repaired nuclear submarine got under way after being postponed when crew members became stressed, possibly due to a previous accident, the Navy said.

Eleven sailors raised their concerns with the captain of HMS Trafalgar - which had run aground off the Isle of Skye in November 2002 - just hours before the sub was due to leave Faslane on the Clyde to begin its "shake-down".

A Royal Navy spokesman said last night: "Their worries gave the captain sufficient concern that he decided to land them for medical assessment and support, thus briefly postponing sailing."

The results of medical examinations are still awaited, but it is thought the men, who recently sailed from the sub's home port of Devonport, may be suffering delayed post-traumatic stress disorder.

The crew was also involved in a minor incident in recent weeks where diesel fumes briefly entered the sub's ventilation system while at in Devonport dockyard.

The shake-down is where testing of the vessel and training of the crew is stepped up and the pressures on the sub's company increased to prepare for operational deployment.

A spokesman said: "The boat was due to sail for shake-down after minor repairs at Faslane - subsequent to the major repair which followed the incident off Skye in 2002.

"Eleven members of the ship's company made representations to the captain through their divisional system about stress relating to returning to sea.

"Their worries gave the captain sufficient concern that he decided to land them for medical assessment and support, thus postponing sailing.

"We got sufficient personnel to sail last night and the ship's shake-down is under way. The crew who were landed are fit to travel south for further assessment at the start of this week."