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<\/p>\nA Royal Navy submarine, equipped with Trident nuclear missiles, suffered a huge malfunction causing the vessel to dive towards its crush depth, it has been reported.<\/p>\n
The Vanguard class sub had been carrying 140 crew members when its depth gauge suddenly failed while on a mission in the Atlantic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It caused a frantic scrabble with engineers managing to stop the submarine and its nuclear reactor from plunging further just moments before disaster struck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The deep sea vessel, carrying Trident 2 missiles, was on patrol when the depth indicators stopped working, with its crew falsely believing it was level when in fact it was diving deeper into the ocean.<\/p>\n
It was only when engineers at the back of the the sub found a second gauge indicating they were headed towards the ‘danger zone’ that they sounded the alarm.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The Vanguard class sub had been carrying 140 crew members when its depth gauge suddenly failed while on a mission in the Atlantic, it has been reported. Pictured: Trident nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vanguard subs have the capacity to accommodate 192 nuclear warheads but are currently permitted to hold a maximum of 48<\/p>\n
‘It’s not the engineers’ job to control the sub’s depth but they saw how deep they were and realised something was wrong,’ a source told The Sun.<\/p>\n
‘Technically the sub was still at a depth where we know it can operate, but if it ever has to go that deep the whole crew is piped to action-stations.<\/p>\n
‘That hadn’t happened. The sub wasn’t supposed to be there, and it was still diving. And if it had carried on going, it doesn’t really bear thinking about.’<\/p>\n
While it not known the depth the submarine reached, the maximum operational depth of this type of vessel is around 500 metres, according to Military Today.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The incident led to an immediate investigation, insiders told the paper, adding it did not affect the UK’s nuclear deterrent.<\/p>\n
It is unknown which of the Navy’s four Vanguard Class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines was involved in the terrifying ordeal.<\/p>\n
The force’s four vessels –\u00a0\u00a0HMS Vanguard, Vengeance, Victorious and Vigilant – each displace 15,900 tonnes when submerged and are more than 149 metres in length.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Ever since 1969 at least one Royal Navy submarine carrying nuclear missiles has been on patrol in case of a sudden attack<\/p>\n
Only two of the vessels, however, are in operation currently as one is being refitted and another is undergoing sea trials.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ever since 1969 at least one Royal Navy submarine carrying nuclear missiles has been on patrol in case of a sudden attack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanguard subs have the capacity to accommodate 192 nuclear warheads but are currently permitted to hold a maximum of 48.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: ‘Our submarines continue to meet their commitments, deploying globally on operations, protecting national interests, and keeping us and our allies safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘While we do not comment on specific details regarding submarine operations, safety of our personnel is always the highest priority.’<\/p>\n