Two marines die on HMS Tireless

[Oberon]

More here

Condolences to their families and friends.




EDIT: Changed title to reflect change from 'marines' to 'sailors' in the BBC News link.

[Linton]

The report has been changed to two sailors.
The MOD press release is blaming a part of the air purification equipment.

RESURGAM

[fatty]

Very sad news, my condolences to their loved ones and the R.N.

As Arctic jurisdiction is one of my main research interests I am curious to know where exactly the incident took place.

[Letum]

Thats a real shame! Any one injured in the accident?

[fatty]

Originally Posted by Letum

Thats a real shame! Any one injured in the accident?

One injured sailor airlifted out to a hospital in Alaska.

[Oberon]

The Beeb now says:

One other member of the crew of the Devonport-based submarine was injured and is receiving medical treatment.

and

An injured sailor was airlifted to a military hospital at Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage with non life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.

and as for location it says:

The SSN Attack Submarine was on a joint British-American exercise off the coast of Alaska when the incident happened.

Superficial damage to the forward compartment, and apparently the piece of equipment which malfunctioned was fitted in 2001 as part of a Traffie upgrade program, and is also fitted on the other T Boats...so I should imagine there will be a few Traffies coming in for servicing shortly.

[lesrae]

My thoughts are with the families.

Reports are saying that she was under the ice when the accident happened, the idea of that makes my blood run cold.

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by lesrae

My thoughts are with the families.

Reports are saying that she was under the ice when the accident happened, the idea of that makes my blood run cold.

I can't help but remember reading Ice Station Zebra.

This just reminds me of however safe from the elements a sub may be, things can always go wrong. I'm also remembering watching the Roisin return from trying to assist HMCS Chicoutimi

[Linton]

This is a link to the official release:http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.8497

[Bill Nichols]

"Air purification equipment"... without any more details, my guess is a fire in the O2 generator (or an oxygen candle fire, if the Brits still use those).

[Bill Nichols]

Ah hah! I was right!

Royal Navy Submarine Incident Kills Two During Ice Exercise
Story Number: NNS070321-15
Release Date: 3/21/2007 5:40:00 PM


From Commander, Submarine Force Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Royal Navy submarine HMS Tireless, participating in the Joint U.S. Navy/Royal Navy Ice Exercise 2007 (ICEX-2007) in the Arctic Ocean, experienced an explosion of a self contained oxygen generation candle that killed two crew members and injured one.

The explosion occurred at approximately 12:20 a.m. (EDT) March 21.

The injured member of the crew has been transported by an Alaska Air National Guard C-130 to Anchorage for treatment.

“I am deeply saddened at the loss of the crewmembers from the Tireless,” said Vice Adm. Jay Donnelly, Commander, Submarine Force. “Submariners are brothers at sea and we all feel the loss as if it were our own. We stand by to continue to assist in any way we can.”

ICEX-2007 and Royal Navy officials have confirmed that the Tireless is safe and operational and that a full assessment is being conducted.

Tireless is commanded by Cdr. Iain Breckenridge of the Royal Navy. It is home ported in Plymouth, Devon, and has been operating with the USS Alexandria (SSN 757), in joint testing on submarine operability and tactical development in Arctic waters.

The U.S. Navy and Royal Navy Arctic cooperation represents an excellent example of the shared vision and resources the two navies enjoy. Since 1986, every Arctic tactical exercise has involved both U.S. Navy and Royal Navy submarines.

The U.S. submarine force conducts exercises in waters around the globe, including the Arctic, in order to guarantee assured access to any ocean in the world. The
submarine force continues to use the Arctic Ocean as an alternate route for shifting submarines between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. U.S. submarines must continue to train in the Arctic environment to refine and validate procedures and required equipment in support of operational safety.

[Linton]

Thank you for the info Bill.A very sad day for the RN submarine service.

[Henson]

Those candles can be bad juju if you're not careful with them.

[lesrae]

A video clip from the BBC/USN of the boat a couple of days ago:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/c...nbram=1&nbwm=1

[Bill Nichols]

Originally Posted by Henson

Those candles can be bad juju if you're not careful with them.

Yep. They've caused fires on submarines, aircraft and the Mir space station.

Wiki here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_oxygen_generator