영국 해군 뱅가드급 잠수함, 예비 수심계로 해저 충돌 사고를 회피

[위종민]

함명이 공개되지 않은 뱅가드급 잠수함 1척이 지난 해 사고가 날 뻔 했었다는 소식이 최근 공개됐었는데, 1년여 전 초계 출동 준비 중 생겼던 일이고 잠항중 수심계가 고장났지만 작동중이었던 예비 수심계로 사고를 피했다고 합니다. 아마도 해저 충돌 사고를 피했다는 얘기일 듯 합니다. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67473729

Nuclear-armed submarine suffered malfunction

Nuclear-armed submarine suffered malfunction

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IMAGE SOURCE,MOD

Image caption,

File photo of a Vanguard class nuclear submarine

By Jonathan Beale

Defence correspondent, BBC News

A Royal Navy nuclear submarine suffered a "concerning" malfunction while diving, the BBC has been told.

The incident on board the unnamed Vanguard class submarine, which carries the UK's trident nuclear missiles, happened more than a year ago while it was preparing to go out on patrol.

A defence source said "there was a problem and it was concerning", but that it was picked up by "the system".

A Royal Navy investigation into the incident took place, the source said.

But they declined to give further details.

During the incident the main depth gauge on the submarine failed as it was diving, a defence source confirmed, but a secondary depth gauge was still working.

Submarines have to be strong enough to withstand enormous pressures exerted by the ocean when diving.

Redundancy systems are built into nuclear armed submarines to prevent problems from escalating.

Details of the incident were first reported in the Sun newspaper which said engineers on board alerted the crew to the failure while the submarine was diving.

The paper said the submarine was still within its limits for operating safely but was diving towards its "crush depth" before the alarm was raised.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) does not normally comment on the operations of the UK's submarines.

The Royal Navy said its submarines continue to meet their commitments and that while it does not comment on operations, the safety of its personnel is always the highest priority.

The Vanguard submarines are based at Faslane in Scotland and, according to the Royal Navy, normally have a crew of 132 officers and men.

In January this year it was reported that inspectors found a "defect" on HMS Vanguard, the lead boat of the four Vanguard-class submarines, while it was undergoing maintenance work.

The defect, from "work done in the past" was "promptly reported and fixed", the MoD said at the time.

In May the vessel finally left the Devonport dockyard where it had undergone a seven-and-a-half-year refit.

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/11/second-depth-gauge-saved-uk-vanguard-nuclear-sub-diving-dangerously-low-defense-minister-says/

Second depth gauge saved UK Vanguard nuclear sub diving dangerously low, defense minister says

James Heappey, UK armed forces minister, offered the latest comments about the incident that reportedly happened more than a year ago but has been shrouded in secrecy.

By   TIM MARTINon November 22, 2023 at 1:37 PM

The Royal Navy’s HMS Vanguard nuclear capable submarine leaves HMNB Devonport, England, after a more than seven year refit. (UK MoD)

BELFAST — A senior UK defense minister told lawmakers today that a Royal Navy Vanguard-class submarine carrying Trident nuclear missiles was saved from sinking to a dangerously low depth after its crew used a back up depth gauge to keep the vessel diving within safe limits.

James Heappey, UK armed forces minister, said during a defense committee hearing today that the second depth gauge “was able to avert what was reported to be imminent.”

His comments confirm‎ a report from the BBC that the second depth gauge was critical to preventing a potentially catastrophic incident that purportedly took place more than a year ago. Officials have revealed little about the incident in which the main depth gauge on the sub reportedly failed while the boat was preparing to go out on patrol and diving, potentially endangering the crew.

The BBC also reported that the Royal Navy launched an investigation into the incident.

Heappey went on to reassure lawmakers that the safety of the Vanguard vessel is in hand, appearing to double down on British maritime readiness with a thinly veiled warning to Britain’s potential adversaries.

“The commander of the Russian Northern Fleet should have absolute confidence that the armed patrol bomber is ready,” he added.

The UK operates four Vanguard class submarines, but the name of the individual vessel to have been put at risk has not been shared publicly. As a rule, Britain’s Ministry of Defence does not comment on nuclear submarine operations.

Each Vanguard submarine carries 48 Lockheed Martin-made Trident 2 D5 nuclear warheads, capable of striking targets out to a range of 4,000 miles away and are fitted with CK51 search and CH91 attack periscopes, according to the Royal Navy. For the Tridents, expanding gas pressure is used to launch the missiles from a launch tube, with the munition entering a boost phase when making contact with service water, the point at which it then expands first, second and third stage rocket motors, states the US Navy.

In 2016, UK lawmakers voted in favor of keeping the UK’s nuclear deterrent out to the 2030s, since leading to procurement approval of four Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) to replace the Vanguard class.

BAE Systems is the lead contractor and shipbuilder for the next generation Dreadnought subs, which it says will each measure 153 meters long and have a displacement of 17,200 tonnes (19,000 tons).

The new vessels will also be armed with Trident missiles. The UK currently participates in the US-led Trident life extension program so the weapon can be updated and in service until the 2040s or beyond. James Cartlidge, UK minister for defence procurement, disclosed to parliament in June that the UK spent £321 million ($400 million) to enter the project.

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By TIM MARTIN

That figure rises to over £820 million ($1 billion) when other supporting nuclear submarine modernisation efforts are accounted for, including missile programs addressing component sustainment and rocket motor life cycle extensions.

[백선호]

40년 전 프랑스 SSBN들은 SLBM의 사거리 때문에 주로 노르웨이 앞바다에서 작전했다고 하는데 (당시 폴라리스 A3를 쓰던 영국도 아마 마찬가지) 요즘은 주로 어디에서 작전할라나요???

https://cafe.daum.net/NTDS/5q4/885

[위종민]

2009년에 HMS 뱅가드와 르 트리옹팡이 충돌한 위치가 동대서양이라고 하니 이제는 북해나 대서양에서 작전하지 않을까 합니다. 아무래도 GIUK 갭 이서에서 작전할 것 같긴 하네요.

[강준구]

이미지를 보니 북해의 가혹한 작전 환경이 그대로 드러나는 것 같습니다.

[위종민]

소설 'HMS 율리시즈'에서 북해-북빙양 작전의 어려움을 토로했던 부분이 생각납니다.