May 28, 200818 yr From Defense Aerospace Royal Navy Submarine Declared Safe After Grounding Incident (Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued May 27, 2008) The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Royal Navy submarine HMS Superb struck an underwater pinnacle whilst on dived passage through the northern Red Sea yesterday, Monday 26 May 2008. There were no casualties and the submarine remains watertight, is safe on the surface and able to operate under its own power. The submarine's nuclear reactor is completely unaffected, and there is no environmental impact. Notwithstanding this, from the initial assessment onboard the submarine, it is clear that there is some damage to her main sonar which prevents her conducting submerged operations. Consequently her programme is being re-considered. No other vessel, military or civil, was involved in the incident. An investigation into how the grounding occurred is underway and a full Board of Inquiry will be conducted in due course. The families of the crew are in the process of being informed. HMS Superb is a Swiftsure-class attack submarine displacing 5,200 tonnes submerged. She is 272ft long and has a complement of 112. Her armament includes spearfish torpedoes. She was built by Vickers Shipbuilding at Barrow and commissioned in 1976.
June 11, 200818 yr Author From Defense Aerospace HMS Superb Update - Arrival in Crete (Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued June 10, 2008) The Royal Navy submarine HMS Superb, which suffered some damage when she struck an underwater pinnacle in the Red Sea on 26 May, has arrived in Crete for a short period. Having carried out an initial inspection in Aqaba, Jordan to ensure her safe passage of the Suez canal, the submarine arrived at the NATO facility at Souda Bay on 9 Jun for a further assessment and essential repair in order to complete the rest of her passage back to the UK. Whilst damage to her main sonar system and ballast tanks meant she remained on the surface whilst on passage as a sensible precaution, the submarine sailed under her own power from Aqaba to Crete. The circumstances of the grounding, in which there were no casualties or environmental impact, are still subject to an investigation.
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