HMS Astute, not so much

UPDATE APRIL 9 2011
One person has been killed and another is in a critical condition after being shot on board a British nuclear submarine.

A navy serviceman has been arrested after the incident on HMS Astute, which is docked in Southampton. Hampshire police and the Ministry of Defence have said the incident was not terrorist related and there had been no risk to the public.

All three involved were Royal Navy personnel.

Several police vehicles were sent to the Eastern Docks and officers could be seen on the gangway of the £1bn submarine.

A police spokesman said: "Hampshire police were called by their Ministry of Defence colleagues at 12.12pm today and are currently liaising with them to establish the exact circumstances of the incident."

An MoD spokesman said: "Two Royal Navy personnel have been involved in a firearms incident at Southampton docks where HMS Astute is alongside. Sadly one has now died as a result of his injuries.

"The Royal Navy is now attempting to inform their families as a matter of urgency. A third Royal Navy serviceman has been arrested by Hampshire constabulary and is now in custody.

"This incident was not terrorist-related and there is no threat to the wider public. We are co-operating fully with the police investigation and a Royal Navy service investigation will begin in due course."

Police were refusing to confirm reports that the shooting took place in a control room, or that the two victims were officers and the person arrested an able seaman. A spokesman said details would not be given until next of kin had been informed.

A navy source said it was believed a pistol was used. Detectives are meeting naval officials on board the vessel.

Astute was not open to the public while in Southampton but civic leaders, sea cadets, scouts and school and college parties were being invited on board.

Visitors on board at the time of the shooting included the leader of Southampton city council, Royston Smith; the mayor, Carol Cunio; and the chief executive, Alistair Meill.

Southampton Itchen MP and former cabinet member John Denham expressed concern about security issues relating to the incident. "It is a matter of grave concern that an incident like this could occur on a visiting Royal Navy vessel. In due course I will be asking ministers to ensure this incident is fully explained with complete openness about any potential risk to the public.

"I wish to express my deepest sypathy to the victims of this incident and their families."

HMS Astute is described by the Royal Navy as the first of a new class of vessel designed to be the largest and most powerful nuclear attack submarine it has ever sailed.

This is Astute's first trip south. It was built in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and is based at Faslane, in Scotland. The five-day visit to Southampton was billed as the first chance for people outside north-west England and Scotland to see it.

Astute's commanding officer, Commander Iain Breckenridge, said before arriving in Southampton: "My ship's company and I are very much looking forward to the visit and meeting the people of the city. And I'm sure scouts, school pupils and other visitors will be impressed with the capabilities of this formidable vessel."

Since commissioning last August the Astute has had what the navy calls an interesting time, including running aground off the Isle of Skye. It is in the middle of a "demanding" trials programme.
guardian.com

She is our most advanced nuclear submarine, described as the stealthiest ever built and packed with state of the art navigation equipment.

But somehow the £1.2billion HMS Astute managed to run aground yesterday.

The Royal Navy super-sub's rudder got stuck in mud and shingle off the Isle of Skye after venturing into the entrance of a shallow bay to take crew aboard.

Stuck high and dry, she languished there under the bemused gaze of locals as red-faced top brass waited anxiously for the tide to rise so she could be freed.

It is the latest in a costly string of prangs, and came at the end of a dreadful week for them which saw drastic defence cuts that mean it will have its fewest ships since the age of Henry VIII and shed 5,000 jobs.
To add to the Navy's embarrassment, Astute's crash happened the morning after the 205th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
Officials said a full investigation will be held to establish the cause of the 'untoward' incident. It will examine possibilities including navigation error, equipment failure and the role of outside influences such as the wind and tide.


dailymail.co.uk

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• HMS Astute
• submarine
• crash
• #FAIL
• Navy
• shooting on a sub
• shooting
• navy
• crewman
• killed
• jinxed
• bad luck

[blacksupra001]

wow i just watched hunt for the red october and it made me look up submarines and i see this, weird.

[RobertM408]

Truly extraordinary.Like the mutiny at Basra and the general problem with maintaining order, discipline and control of who fire is directed at in Afghanistan by the British Army, USMC and US Army. The most potent nuclear submarine is of no use if the crew will not follow the command of the UK politican leadership and ratings won't obey the officers. Increasingly in all Western Armed forces it can not be guaranteed the ratings will follow the orders of officers even in action or crisis.

[sidewinder188]

@Zero7evenX Go and fuck yourself you delusional limey faggot..British nuclear sub technology comes from the US. .the whole propulsion system of the Spearhead torpedo is manufactured in the US. The Astute class has little electronics made in the UK..

Bae systems my ass... Lockheed,Northrop,Boeing,Gener­al Dynamics and Ratheon supply 10 times more technology,parts,components to Britain than the Bae Systems supply to the US.

[sidewinder188]

@Zero7evenX BULLSHIT..You learned from the Americans how to build nuclear subs in the first place..First British nuclear reactor was an exact copy of the American Westinghouse.

Who has more experience in design and construction of nuclear subs ? Moron..The Astute needed an  awful lot of US engineering assistance after it was delayed more than two years..You don't train Americans,you never did.. On the contrary,RN Trident 2 crews are trained in the US..

[2IDSGT]

What the hell was she doing in such a tight spot? How about transferring personnel in a safer place? Guess the RN always has to do things the hard way. Here in the US, we have enough trouble with subs bumping into things without driving them into such shallow water.

[APWK031194]

the Royal Navy person on here wasnt a commander but a Captain aha

[Zero7evenX]

@Zero7evenX British submariners are the Best in the world, The USA sends its submariners to England to be trained on the Perisher course for submarine commanders, the toughest course in the world.

BAE Systems is the worlds largest arms developer, who develops & supplies a vast amount of the US military tech.

Cheeky little misinformed bastard.

[Zero7evenX]

@19thSFGA Another warped yank with that deluded generic rhetoric.

[comanchio1976]

@19thSFGA you do know what 'sea trials' are dont you?

[TheFlyingPineapple]

@ericssson ohh really....