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View Full Version : Officer shot dead on HMS Astute, arrest made


Matador.es
04-08-11, 09:55 AM
:nope:

Arrest made in nuclear sub shooting
08 April 2011

A Royal Navy officer has been killed and a rating has been left with life-threatening injuries following a shooting on board HMS Astute.

One man, reportedly a fellow rating, has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the attack, which took place while the sub was berthed in Southampton docks.

Reports suggest that a 9mm pistol was used in the shooting, which took place during a changing of the guard. The incident is not said to be terrorist-related.

Hampshire police were called to the boat at 1212 on Friday 8 April and have sealed off the area around the docks. The force insists there is no risk to the public.

"Hampshire police were called by their Ministry of Defence colleagues at 12.12pm today and are currently liaising with them to establish the exact circumstances of the incident," a Hampshire police spokesman said.

"It is believed two people have sustained injuries as a result of gun shots being discharged on the vessel. People should be reassured there is no risk to public safety.

"Hampshire Constabulary and the MoD are keen to stress this incident is not terrorist related.

"More information will be circulated as it becomes available."

The submarine was in the city as part of a scheduled five-day visit.

Local dignitaries and parties of scouts and Sea Cadets had been invited on board the boat during its five-day visit to the city, and Southampton Council has confirmed that the city's mayor, council leader and chief executive were on board at the time of the shooting. None were said to have been injured in the attack.

The boat is one of seven Astute class submarines ordered by the UK and became trapped on a shingle bank during sea trials in October last year.

In sea trials in February this year some of the submarine's weapons support and sewage systems failed. (http://www.defencemanagement.com/news_story.asp?id=16023)

Oberon
04-08-11, 10:08 AM
:nope: She's going to get a reputation at this rate.

Ramius
04-08-11, 11:42 AM
R.I.P. shipmate

TLAM Strike
04-08-11, 11:48 AM
Didn't something like this happen on a Russian boat a few years ago? :hmmm:

Chad
04-08-11, 12:18 PM
This boat sounds cursed.. One incident after another. Perhaps it's the ghost of Nelson rolling in his grave because of the down-sizing of the British Navy.

ajrimmer42
04-08-11, 03:38 PM
Saw this on Yahoo earlier, strange. Although it did say in that report that they believed an SA80 was used.

bookworm_020
04-08-11, 04:41 PM
:nope: She's going to get a reputation at this rate.

I think she already had the reputation, this just adds to it.

Ramius
04-08-11, 05:06 PM
Saw this on Yahoo earlier, strange. Although it did say in that report that they believed an SA80 was used.

Yea it was a SA80

Oberon
04-08-11, 06:13 PM
I think she already had the reputation, this just adds to it.

With any luck that won't transmit to her classmate Ambush who is afloat at Barrow at the moment before trials next year.

In all seriousness though, RIP to the crewman who died in this incident and hopefully the other crewman will make a full recovery. One can only presume that the sailor who unloaded the SA80 broke. I imagine there has been a lot of pressure on the crew after the embarrassments up until now, and one chap must have snapped, it doesn't excuse what he did but that's the only thing I can think of.

Jimbuna
04-08-11, 06:36 PM
How oh so very sad :nope:

Ramius
04-08-11, 07:25 PM
I know its from the Sun but....

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3517944/Shot-dead-on-nuclear-submarine-HMS-Astute.html

Wolfehunter
04-08-11, 11:48 PM
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/1-dead-another-injured-shooting-aboard-nuclear-submarine-20110408-083137-256.html

Here it is too.

Sucks.. I wonder what caused him to snap? :-?

ajrimmer42
04-09-11, 07:18 AM
Some new info here http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20110409/tuk-council-hero-takes-on-nuclear-sub-gu-45dbed5.html

that Sun link is probably BS lol

Oberon
04-09-11, 07:28 AM
Good on Mr Smith though, he undoubtedly saved a few lives there. I hope the RN acknowledges this if they haven't already. :yep:

Jimbuna
04-09-11, 12:05 PM
What's most important and upsetting is the fact two young kids no longer have a father :nope:

iambecomelife
04-09-11, 08:33 PM
I read in a book on the USS Scorpion that they have pretty extensive psychological testing for any USN sailors interested in submarine duty - even assigning psychiatrists to observe the crew during voyages. I'd imagine it's the same for the Royal Navy, so this really comes as a surprise. Not that any measures are foolproof, but this is still shocking. I wonder if he was just angry about his TOD, or if there was also a preexisting condition nobody diagnosed?

TLAM Strike
04-09-11, 09:13 PM
I read in a book on the USS Scorpion that they have pretty extensive psychological testing for any USN sailors interested in submarine duty - even assigning psychiatrists to observe the crew during voyages. I'd imagine it's the same for the Royal Navy, so this really comes as a surprise. Not that any measures are foolproof, but this is still shocking. I wonder if he was just angry about his TOD, or if there was also a preexisting condition nobody diagnosed?
The USN did a project many years ago where they send Navy Diver type guys and Astronauts to a underwater research post. Well they called off the project after a man died because of a sabotaged O2 Regulator on his tank. Apparently one of the crew of the underwater base went nuts and started sabotaging equipment and nearly killed all the crew. It was called SEALAB I think.