Another UK Sub runs aground

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Oberon

(Falklands conflict notwithstanding because I know an Oberon collided with a rock there and busted a forward tube)

And the Conqueror got tangled up in seaweed. I'm guessing at Burdwood Bank.

Originally Posted by lesrae

I agree with Linton, this is nothing to do with age, just a mistake or error in a chart. I presume she's lost her bow array which is why she can't safely dive.

IIRC on US submarines the bow dome is external to the presure hull. Maybe the UK does something diffrent maybe their just being extra safe I don't know.

[Linton]

Design of an S-boat would be similar to a 688.The Bow array would be in a watertight area.They were not originally fitted with a reelable towed array and had clip-on ones instead.The Bow sonar would give her eyes and ears forward and without them she would be at a disadvantage submerged.It would not affect her ability to navigate on the surface.Problems are going to be logistical with regards to repairs.I said earlier that Gibraltar is the probable destination,but this will seriously affect the relationship with the Spanish neighbours.
Another source suggests that the Red Sea is very well mapped underwater, and this may have been a navigational error.

[Kapitan]

Yeah id agree with linton on this gibralter for repairs doubt the spanish would like that though well heres my two fingers to them !

We own gibralter so we do what we like tuff if you dont like it.

[lesrae]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

IIRC on US submarines the bow dome is external to the presure hull. Maybe the UK does something diffrent maybe their just being extra safe I don't know.

On RN boats the sonar sensors are external to the pressure hull, in a free flood space, covered by the bow dome. As I understand it the safety aspect is to do with them diving in a busy traffic area without 'ears'.

Originally Posted by Kapitan

Yeah id agree with linton on this gibralter for repairs doubt the spanish would like that though well heres my two fingers to them !

We own gibralter so we do what we like tuff if you dont like it.

That depends on what's needed, the last RN SSN to do this needed a whole new front end and Gib has no suitable dry dock.

Glad you've not given up your ambition for the diplomatic service though

[Kapitan]

Oh we are very diplomatic in my house hold i decide everyone else agrees.

[Linton]

This report suggests that she may be scrapped.They just have to get her home first:
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news...e_scrapped.php

[Kapitan]

Thing is though is it worth keeping a 32 year old submarine in the fleet paying out millions for another years service only then to be decomissioned, personally yes scrap her and spend the money on another astute.

[Cohaagen]

Kapitan-

It is definitely worth keeping Super-B in service as she has a special fit and facilities for deploying special forces, ie. SBS. She also carries a Mystic-class DSRV. If she's scrapped, the fleet will be without either of these capabilities until a suitably modified Astute comes online. To lose the first capability will be a serious blow, and marks the first time in decades we've been without it.

The MoD has a poor record for opportunistic scrapping of damaged vessels as a cost-cutting expedient. Navweaps.com had the cheek to suggest that the scrapping of a carrier in the 60s after a mess fire was evidence of a defective design - the damage was actually minimal but had the misfortune to occur at a time when the fleet was being hacked away.

[Kapitan]

for what its worth mystic is american DSRV we no longer use them, we have our own LR5 and she can be fitted to any submarine in our fleet ive seen pictures of her on tireless turbulent torbay vengence vangaurd and splendid without the need for any adaptions.

the submarine is what 32 years old which means she has done her miles and service i agree she should be kept in service but cost over a few more months maybe a years more service is the expenditure worth it?