Sub collision off Holy Loch 40+ years ago?

[Catfish]

Isn't that old news?
The beginning of a secret co(l)d war?

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ne...-war-hmdlcm0p0

From The Times today's article:

"The crash between an American submarine carrying 160 nuclear warheads and a Soviet vessel was so serious that it could have led to a third world war, one expert claimed."

"The incident took place in shallow waters near Holy Loch, Argyll, about 30 miles from Glasgow. The US maintained a nuclear submarine base at Holy Loch between 1961 and 1992."

[Jimbuna]

There was always a lot of traffic (both known and suspected) around that area in those days and it has long been rumoured here in the UK that other collisions involving Royal Navy vessels also went unreported to the public.

[Catfish]

^ Right, i was just astonished to find such an article on The Times' main page

[Commander Wallace]

There have been as Jim said a number of collisions between subs, documented and otherwise unknown. I'm sure the actual number would be astonishing. 40 years later, they felt safe enough reporting it ?

[Mr Quatro]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

There have been as Jim said a number of collisions between subs, documented and otherwise unknown. I'm sure the actual number would be astonishing. 40 years later, they felt safe enough reporting it ?

Here's one few people know about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Von_Steuben_(SSBN-632)

On August 9, 1968, while operating submerged about 40 miles (64 kilometers) off the southern coast of Spain, the USS Von Steuben (SSBN-632) was struck by a submerged tow cable connecting a tug and a merchant tanker called the Sealady (Sealady was a liberty ship previously named Bengt H. Larson (1959) and before that was named Alan Seeger (1954)). Due to the merchant being under tow at the time of the collision, the ship had no engine noise for the submarine to detect its presence. When it became apparent the submarine had lost depth control and steering, but not knowing why, the submarine conducted an emergency main ballast tank blow, which resulted in the collision of the submarine and the towed ship. The submarine suffered external damage to the sail and superstructure. After local repairs at the submarine squadron facilities in Rota, she reported to Groton, Connecticut, for more detailed repairs at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, after which she resumed deterrent patrols out of Rota.

The Sealady sank in the harbor of Cadiz, Spain in plain sight of the submarine base at Rota.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

Here's one few people know about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Von_Steuben_(SSBN-632)



The Sealady sank in the harbor of Cadiz, Spain in plain sight of the submarine base at Rota.

Thanks for the info and update.



The contract to build Von Steuben was awarded on 20 July 1961 and her keel was laid down there on 4 September 1962.



Decommissioning and disposal

Von Steuben was decommissioned on 26 February 1994 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register simultaneously. Her scrapping via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bremerton, Washington, began on 1 October 2000 and was completed on 30 October 2001. Von Steuben's age from delivery to disposal was 37.2 years.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Von_Steuben_(SSBN-632)


37 years is a long time to serve.

[Mr Quatro]

Originally Posted by Catfish

Isn't that old news?
The beginning of a secret co(l)d war?

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ne...-war-hmdlcm0p0

From The Times today's article:

"The crash between an American submarine carrying 160 nuclear warheads and a Soviet vessel was so serious that it could have led to a third world war, one expert claimed."

"The incident took place in shallow waters near Holy Loch, Argyll, about 30 miles from Glasgow. The US maintained a nuclear submarine base at Holy Loch between 1961 and 1992."

Twenty-three safety devices on each missile kept them safe from a nuclear accident ... possibly the reactor would scramble, but they have a diesel back up to make it back to port.

Longer range missiles keep us from using Holy Loch anymore ... no telling how many enemy vessels were waiting for a boomer to go on patrol.