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or that communication procedures were not effective. "I would have thought it possible to at least arrange to be in different parts of the ocean without compromising operational security," said
Saunders. "No doubt there are a number of technical issues to be investigated, but the root of the problem
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newspaper, he said that whilst it is not known whether the UK and France exchange information now, it was not the case when he served as Flag
Officer Submarines in 1984. He recalls that his French counterpart proposed that London and Paris share information on SSBN patrols, precisely to avoid an
310:
may have revealed the position of one submarine to the other, it is unlikely either boat was operating its active sonar at the time of the collision. Ballistic missile submarines are designed to conceal themselves while on patrol, and the use of active sonar would immediately reveal the boat's
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at the time, said, "The collision of two submarines, both with nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons onboard could have released vast amounts of radiation and scattered scores of nuclear warheads across the seabed". A government spokesman said that there "was no compromise to nuclear safety".
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has speculated that though a collision might appear highly improbable considering the vastness of the areas in which SSBNSs operate, the actual areas they use are in reality limited, and overlap. They have claimed that the use of these areas by submarines of the
168:, in response to a question at an unrelated event. Band said that the collision occurred at low speed, and that there had been no injuries. The French Ministry of Defence also stated that a collision "at a very low speed" had occurred, with no casualties.
97:
sustained damage, but no injuries or radioactivity releases were reported. At the time of the collision, both vessels were submerged and moving "at very low speed" according to the UK Ministry of
Defence. Both are equipped with active and passive
363:, where he described the incident as "very serious" and said it was time for France and Britain to coordinate their submarine operations more actively, suggesting that the use of operating areas is not communicated between France, the UK and the
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Media reports have discussed two possible aspects contributing to the incident; geographic separation of the submarine operating areas (known as waterspace management), and the ability of each submarine to detect the other using
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appears to be procedural." This position appears to be corroborated by
Admiral Sandy Woodward, a former commander of the Royal Navy's submarine force. In a commentary article for
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coverings over their hulls and were travelling at low speed, it would have been unlikely for either submarine to have detected the presence of the other while using only their
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was returning from a tour of duty when the incident occurred; it was carrying a crew of 111, and capable of being equipped with 16
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With the delayed acknowledgement of the accident, both the
British and French ministries of defence were accused of attempting a
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was on a routine patrol in the
Eastern Atlantic Ocean with a crew of 135. The submarine can carry a maximum load of 16
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of the collision. The delay in reporting the accident was also criticised in the international press. British
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initially would not comment that the incident took place. On 16 February 2009, the incident was confirmed by
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Several media outlets have referred to comments by retired Royal Navy
Commodore Stephen Saunders, editor of
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received damage to the outer casing in the area of the missile compartment on the starboard (right) side.
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200:(equivalent to about ÂŁ85M in 2023). Both vessels returned to home bases under their own power,
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position. Several media outlets stated that because both submarines are equipped with modern
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was said to have received damage to the active sonar dome under her bow, indicating that
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incident at sea, but no agreement was reached at the time on achieving that.
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On the night between 3–4 February 2009, the two submarines collided in the
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demanded an official inquiry into the issue. Kate Hudson, a member of the
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arrives back at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Scotland following a patrol.
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745:"Submarine Collision: French and UK may coordinate submarine patrols"
270:. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.
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156:"collided with an immersed object (probably a container)" The
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763:"Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward: Why was information not shared?"
102:, although only the latter is used on an operational patrol.
713:"Did France's Secrecy Cause a Nuclear Submarine Collision?"
584:"British and French nuclear submarines collide in Atlantic"
496:"British and French nuclear submarines crash in Atlantic"
822:"MPs demand inquiry into 'hushed-up' nuclear subs crash"
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navies has increased the risk of accidental collision.
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556:"SSBN Le Triomphant Class Ballistic Missile Submarine"
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Caroline
Gammell, Thomas Harding (16 February 2009).
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494:Byers, David; Bremner, Charles (16 February 2009).
90:in the night between 3–4 February 2009. Both
648:"British, French nuclear subs collide in Atlantic"
636:Communiqué du ministère de la Défense du 16-02-09
905:"France and UK may coordinate submarine routes"
18:HMS Vanguard and Triomphant submarine collision
136:, with a standard patrol load of 48 warheads.
128:, with a standard patrol load of 48 warheads.
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531:"How Nuclear Subs Could Go Bump in the Night"
8:
848:"British, French nuclear submarines collide"
1136:List of submarine classes of the Royal Navy
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1432:February 2009 events in the United Kingdom
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769:. London. 17 February 2009. Archived from
874:"Navy confirms two nuclear subs collided"
286:Learn how and when to remove this message
1387:France–United Kingdom military relations
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1392:Military history of the Atlantic Ocean
187:from above and amidship. According to
582:Simpson, Aislinn (16 February 2009).
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116:French submarine Le Triomphant (S616)
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1131:List of submarines of the Royal Navy
903:Hardach, Sophie (17 February 2009).
426:Submarine Incident off Kildin island
421:Major submarine incidents since 2000
880:. 16 February 2009. Archived from
711:Harrell, Eben (16 February 2009).
654:. 16 February 2009. Archived from
529:Sanchez, Matt (16 February 2009).
460:"Nuclear subs collide in Atlantic"
319:systems. Further, as reported by
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1407:Nuclear weapons program of France
797:"Knapp an der Katastrophe vorbei"
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398:Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
339:British Broadcasting Corporation
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126:Trident II D5 ballistic missiles
1372:2009 in international relations
1427:February 2009 events in France
1412:Trident (UK nuclear programme)
206:Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde
1:
1195:People's Liberation Army Navy
623:, French Ministry of Defence
171:Both vessels were damaged.
95:ballistic missile submarines
1422:British submarine accidents
266:the claims made and adding
148:. On 6 February 2009, the
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1417:French submarine accidents
1397:Maritime incidents in 2009
1382:2009 in the United Kingdom
394:Communist Party of Britain
150:French Ministry of Defence
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1038:Current French Navy ships
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907:. Reuters. Archived from
212:on 14 February 2009, and
592:. London. Archived from
334:), to avoid detection.
330:) or varying salinity (
228:as a normal procedure.
158:UK Ministry of Defence
134:M45 ballistic missiles
62:
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36:Nuclear submarine HMS
1402:Nuclear weapon safety
396:who was chair of the
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795:(16 February 2009).
360:Janes Fighting Ships
884:on 19 February 2009
773:on 20 February 2009
751:. 17 February 2009.
725:on 18 February 2009
689:on 19 February 2009
658:on 20 February 2009
621:Incident sous-marin
596:on 17 February 2009
589:The Daily Telegraph
409:Minister of Defence
190:The Daily Telegraph
27:2009 naval accident
1341:United States Navy
854:. 16 February 2009
558:. 16 February 2009
506:News International
472:. 16 February 2009
251:possibly contains
112:HMS Vanguard (S28)
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306:While the use of
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253:original research
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214:Le Triomphant
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1282:Russian Navy
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1178:SSBN classes
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913:. Retrieved
909:the original
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886:. Retrieved
882:the original
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856:. Retrieved
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830:. Retrieved
826:The Scotsman
816:
804:. Retrieved
800:
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775:. Retrieved
771:the original
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727:. Retrieved
723:the original
716:
693:25 September
691:. Retrieved
687:the original
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660:. Retrieved
656:the original
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594:the original
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509:. Retrieved
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328:thermoclines
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308:active sonar
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1254:Indian Navy
1226:French Navy
1116:Dreadnought
1033:French Navy
915:17 February
888:16 February
858:16 February
832:17 February
806:17 February
801:Der Spiegel
793:Der Spiegel
729:17 February
662:17 February
652:Yahoo! News
633:(in French)
618:(in French)
600:16 February
562:16 February
540:17 February
511:16 February
476:16 February
407:, France's
405:Hervé Morin
390:Nick Harvey
84:French Navy
1366:Categories
1313:Royal Navy
1235:Triomphant
1180:in service
1107:Resolution
1077:Victorious
1009:Redoutable
986:Triomphant
958:Triomphant
681:. London:
504:. London:
432:References
332:haloclines
303:methods.
276:March 2009
260:improve it
218:ĂŽle Longue
198:50 million
106:Submarines
74:Royal Navy
51:Triomphant
1091:Vengeance
1021:(planned)
972:Téméraire
501:The Times
377:Aftermath
264:verifying
183:ran into
140:Collision
67:HMS
1322:Vanguard
1290:Delta IV
1084:Vigilant
1070:Vanguard
1056:Vanguard
993:Vigilant
979:Terrible
749:Die Welt
535:Fox News
465:BBC News
415:See also
383:cover-up
324:magazine
301:acoustic
222:Brittany
202:Vanguard
185:Vanguard
173:Vanguard
122:Vanguard
69:Vanguard
58:Vigilant
38:Vanguard
1263:Arihant
1018:SNLE 3G
878:Reuters
352:Russian
344:British
258:Please
226:frigate
208:in the
82:of the
72:of the
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348:French
53:-class
1295:Borei
1118:class
1109:class
1011:class
777:4 May
100:sonar
1350:Ohio
917:2009
890:2009
860:2009
834:2009
808:2009
779:2010
731:2009
718:Time
695:2009
664:2009
602:2009
564:2009
542:2009
513:2009
478:2009
350:and
337:The
322:Time
164:Sir
120:HMS
114:and
76:and
852:CNN
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