Narrow escape: UK nuclear sub's brush with disaster

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Sun
20 Nov 2023 13:55
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A critical issue was detected when the depth indicator on the Royal Navy vessel malfunctioned, as reported by The Sun.

A picture shows the Trident Nuclear Submarine, HMS Victorious, on patrol off the west coast of Scotland. (AFP via Getty Images)

Britain narrowly averted a potential catastrophe involving one of its aging Vanguard-class nuclear submarines, equipped with two Trident nuclear missiles, as crucial onboard equipment malfunctioned, The Sun reported on Sunday. The incident occurred as the submarine was gearing up for a patrol mission in the Atlantic, although the specific date was not disclosed.

A source revealed to The Sun that a critical issue arose when the depth indicator on the Royal Navy vessel malfunctioned. This malfunction falsely conveyed to the submarine's commanders that the descent had ceased when, in reality, the vessel continued to descend to greater depths.

Why it matters

The vessel, carrying 140 crew members, came perilously close to entering the "danger zone," where water pressure could have led to its crushing, had it not been for vigilant engineers who detected the issue using a secondary gauge at the rear of the submarine, as reported. The engineers, although not responsible for controlling the submarine's depth, observed the abnormal depth and recognized a problem.

According to the same source, the problem was identified at a depth within the submarine's operational range, averting a potentially catastrophic outcome.

The report highlighted the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing that if the descent had continued unchecked, the consequences could have been severe. The Sun refrained from disclosing the submarine's identity and the unsafe depth due to security concerns.

It also noted that such an incident could have triggered a complex salvage mission to recover the classified vessel and its nuclear reactor before potential involvement by other nations.