HMS Trouble in hot water again as sub breaks down on first day at sea

Published on Sunday 12 December 2010 16:01

A NUCLEAR-POWERED submarine that ran aground off the Scottish coast two months ago broke down on its first day back at sea, it has emerged.

HMS Astute was forced to head back to its base in Faslane, on Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute, during tests last week after suffering what Ministry of Defence officials described as a "minor defect".

It was initially reported that a fault was found in the steam plant, which affected the submarine's propulsion and desalination system, which makes sea water drinkable, but the MoD denied this yesterday.

Navy sources said Astute - which is supposed to be capable of staying at sea for three months at a time - reached Faslane under its own power.

A source said: "We could do without these new technical problems just weeks after Astute was grounded. At least this time it wasn't damaged."

The submarine hit the headlines on 22 October, when it ran aground off the coast of Skye and ended up marooned for several hours until the tide eventually freed it.

The vessel was damaged in a collision with the coastguard tug the Anglian Prince, which was sent to free it.

The submarine returned to base at Faslane on the Clyde three days after the incident for repairs, which the Royal Navy claimed were minor, although experts at the time said that the bill for the work could run into millions of pounds.

The error led to the submarine's commander, Andy Coles, being transferred to another post and replaced by Commander Iain Breckenridge.

It is hoped that the vessel will be back in service this week.

The latest incident came as the Ministry of Defence admitted that despite being fitted with the latest global positioning and monitoring systems, the submarine's personnel still rely on paper charts similar to those used in British submarines during the Second World War.

Insiders claim that cuts in defence spending mean that although electronic charting is fitted in some Royal Navy ships, it will not be installed in Astute until next year.

An MoD spokesman declined to comment on whether or not the lack of equipment was instrumental in Astute running aground, but confirmed that the vessel would be included in an ongoing upgrading programme.

"HMS Astute is fitted with a range of navigational aids, which include GPS and an electronic plotting table," he said.

"She will be fitted with electronic charting as part of an ongoing upgrade of the navigational systems on all Royal Navy vessels.

"The circumstances surrounding the (grounding] incident have been investigated and the service inquiry has reported and is being considered.It is too early to discuss its outcome."

The spokesman confirmed: "HMS Astute has been completing sea trials and has returned to port to have a minor defect corrected."

Astute is the first of seven new nuclear-powered submarines of its class.

One of the most advanced submarines in the world, it was built by defence giant BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and launched in 2007, ten years after it was ordered.

The seven-strong fleet will eventually replace the Trafalgar-class submarine.

It is fitted with a nuclear reactor that will not need replenishing during its 25-year tour of service.

The main limit to the amount of time it can spend underwater is the amount of food it can carry.

With a displacement of 7,400 tonnes and a top speed of 33mph, and capable of carrying a crew of 109, the vessel can carry a mix of up to 38 Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes and Tomahawk Land Attack cruise missiles.