We All Live in a Nuclear Submarine ...

[AlfredJPruffock]

A Royal Navy nuclear submarine was involved in a collision in the middle of the Atlantic, it was reported today.

The crash between HMS Vanguard and French submarine Le Triomphant, which was also carrying nuclear warheads, is believed to have occurred on 3 or 4 February.


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 the 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.

[Moscow Mule]

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

More likely: they both knew somebody was there, but both lost contact in to maneuvering.

Despite what your quote says, nuclear subs don't scoot round the ocean pinging sonar everywhere.

[HairyArsedBloke]

More likely: they both knew somebody was there, but both lost contact in to maneuvering.

Despite what your quote says, nuclear subs don't scoot round the ocean pinging sonar everywhere.

Quite

[thelace]

More likely: they both knew somebody was there, but both lost contact in to maneuvering.

Despite what your quote says, nuclear subs don't scoot round the ocean pinging sonar everywhere.

Perhaps they should?

[Moscow Mule]

Perhaps they should?

Only if they want a torpedo up their arse.

[d000hg]

Only if they want a torpedo up their arse.

Exactly. Submarines are designed to be very very hard to detect, you can use passive sonar to listen for another submarine but actually firing out a sonar ping immediately broadcasts your own position.

Probably the two subs were playing some tactical exercise.

[TheBigD]

Exactly. Submarines are designed to be very very hard to detect, you can use passive sonar to listen for another submarine but actually firing out a sonar ping immediately broadcasts your own position.

Probably the two subs were playing some tactical exercise.

Like a nuclear sub version of chicken?

[Moscow Mule]

Like a nuclear sub version of chicken?

More like Blind Man's Bluff

[d000hg]

Like a nuclear sub version of chicken?

I should note all my knowledge of modern submarines comes from Tom Clancy novels

[Moscow Mule]

I should note all my knowledge of modern submarines comes from Tom Clancy novels

Most of what he writes is well researched.

Most of mine comes from a stint in a now defunct government agency but it's fascinating stuff.