HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant .....

Nuclear submarines collide in Atlantic

Damaged British and French vessels return to base after crash deep below ocean's surface

• Rachel Williams and Richard Norton-Taylor
• guardian.co.uk, Monday 16 February 2009 10.42 GMT
• Article history

HMS Vanguard before it suffered 'scrapes' in a collision with a French submarine. Photograph: Chris Bacon/PA

A Royal Navy nuclear submarine and a French vessel have been damaged in a collision deep below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.

HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant, which were both said to have been carrying nuclear missiles, are believed to have crashed while submerged on 3 or 4 February, according to reports. The submarines had a total of around 250 sailors on board

Defence officials told guardian.co.uk the two submarines collided in what they said was an extraordinary accident.

"They can't see each other in the water," an official said. The collision raises questions about the submarines' sonar and radar and why they did not detect one another.

The Ministry of Defence said the Vanguard returned to its base in Faslane, Scotland, with only "scrapes". A spokesman 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."

Vanguard, one of Britain's four V-class submarines that make up the Trident nuclear deterrent, was said to have visible dents on her hull as she was towed home last night.

Triomphant's sonar dome was reported to be extensively damaged. She has returned to Brest. Inquiries are under way on both sides of the Channel.

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