Posted on 01/10/2008 3:11:28 PM PST by jdm
NEW DELHI: An Indian naval submarine on a routine mission collided with a cargo ship in the Arabian Sea off Pakistan, officials said on Thursday, adding that there were no reports of casualties.
The 2,500-tonne INS Sindhughosh, with a crew of 53, sustained only superficial damage to its conning tower, Indian Navy spokesman Nirad Sinha said.
However, according to naval officials who asked not to be named, the vessel was seriously damaged. The navy declined to comment on the extent of damage to the Cayman-registered merchant vessel or reveal its current whereabouts.
The ship MV Leeds Castle was in restricted waters and in that area the depth is not much and hence the mishap, the spokesman said.The submarine has been towed to a naval dockyard at the western Indian city of Mumbai.
The naval officials said the submarine was submerged and had its radars off and periscope down when it slammed into the ship off Indias Diu island, 400 nautical miles from Mumbai.
Diu lies 70 nautical miles from Pakistani waters.
The collision came just after naval intelligence received alerts of possible strikes against its warships off Pakistan, naval sources said.
Hmmmm...
Must say the Navy news is somewhat exciting these days.
No sonar on duty?
Big tahini spill?
? hmm.
Bump! { 8^)
It was “attacked” by a cargo ship? What flag was this rouge cargo ship flying?
Sorry, just re-read it was an attack by a ship of the Caymen Islands.
Then again, it might have been one of those stealth cargo ships.
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