Free Republic

THE naval officer in charge of a state-of-the-art submarine when it ran aground off the coast of Scotland has been relieved of command. Nuclear-powered HMS Astute was the first of a new class of cutting-edge sub being put through sea trials when it became stuck on a shingle bank off the Isle of Skye last month. It was stuck for several hours and had to be pulled clear when the tide came in. Naval chiefs announced that the man in charge of the vessel, Andy Coles, 47, was yesterday stripped of his command of the submarine altogether. He will remain...

Nuclear submarine which hit rock may have to be scrapped

A British nuclear-powered submarine has been damaged after it hit rocks in the Red Sea, defence officials say. HMS Superb hit an underwater rock on 26 May and damage to its sonar equipment forced it to surface. No crew members were hurt and the submarine remains watertight, according to a Ministry of Defence spokesman. He said the submarine's nuclear reactor was "completely unaffected", but a full investigation was under way to determine the cause of the collision. The 272ft attack vessel had passed through the Suez Canal and was in the northern Red Sea, 80 miles south of Suez itself,...

GROTON, Conn. -- The commander of a U.S. nuclear submarine that collided with a Turkish cargo ship in the Persian Gulf this month was relieved of command Wednesday and two other officers were reassigned, the Navy said. Cmdr. Steven M. Oxholm put the submarine in a hazardous situation, a Navy investigation found, and he received a letter of reprimand. The Groton-based USS Philadelphia was traveling on the surface of the Gulf on Sept. 5 when it slammed into the bulk carrier M/V Yaso Aysen. Citing a lack of confidence in Oxholm's ability to command, Rear Adm. John Bird relieved him...