Today's announcement that all 'hunter killer', nuclear-powered submarines
have been withdrawn from service comes as no surprise to the Campaign for
Nuclear Disarmament.
CND has been monitoring developments on the stricken HMS Tireless which has been tied up in Gibraltar since May following the leakage of coolant water in its nuclear reactor compartment and believed the problem to be far worse than admitted by the Ministry of Defence.
In August there was a report that similar defects had been detected in other Trafalgar and Swiftsure class hunter killer submarines. At that time CND said that this was clearly an indication of systemic defect in all nuclear submarine reactors, whether in the design or caused by extensive use.
"Three of the four Polaris class, nuclear weapon submarines probably were withdrawn from service with this very problem and CND is not willing to accept the MoD's assurance that it will not effect the reactors in the Trident submarines," said CND Chair Dave Knight.
Since the MoD withdrew four practically unused diesel-electric 'Upholder' class submarines after the end of the Cold War, the UK has been entirely dependent on an all nuclear submarine force powered by PWRs (Pressurised Water Reactors).
"The systemic problem is likely to be something to do with the joints which connect the smaller piping in the pressuriser to the primary circuit which supplies heated coolant to the steam generator," said Scottish CND secretary John Ainslie.
The Trident reactors may be PWR modifications but they are more than likely the same design as the Polaris, Swiftsure and Trafalgar reactors. It is the MoD's responsibility to explain why Trident reactors won't be affected.
CND believes all the UK's nuclear submarines should be recalled to port and that the Government's decision to build three new 'Astute' class hunter killer submarines should be reviewed, for policy reasons as well as safety.
"There have been too many deaths and too many accidents involving nuclear submarines. Its really is not a very bright idea to have nuclear reactors chugging round the oceans of the world," said Dave Knight.
Further information: Nigel Chamberlain 07968 420859
John Ainslie 07715 538652
BRITAIN is to be left without its strike force of nuclear submarines because
safety fears have forced the Royal Navy to recall them all.
The fleet of "hunter killer" nuclear-powered submarines is expected to be
out of action for months after a decision yesterday to cancel all operations
following the discovery of a serious defect linked to the reactor system.
The decision to take all 12 vessels out of service followed a detailed
inspection of HMS Tireless, a Trafalgar class boat which limped into
Gibraltar in May with a leak in pipework running from the nuclear reactor
system.
The arrival of the submarine caused a major diplomatic row between the Rock
and Britain when the Ministry of Defence said it wanted to repair the damage
at a dock in Gibraltar.
The operational impact on the Navy following yesterday's decision will be
devastating because the submarines play a crucial role in Britain's military
commitments. Last year one of the nuclear submarines was on active service
in the Adriatic, launching Tomahawk cruise missiles at Serbian military
facilities during Nato's bombing campaign.
Although after initial checks, the Tireless problem was believed to be a
simple defect in welding, experts later realised there was a more serious
defect, and the decision was taken to bring all the hunter killer submarines
home. Royal Navy sources said it was vital to put safety first and accept
that there would be "operational penalties".
The Navy will not know until next week whether the whole fleet has been
affected or how long it will take to repair the defect.
But the sources said it appeared to be a "generic" fault - either a design
or quality control issue - which indicated that all 12 submarines may be
suffering the same problem.
The four strategic deterrent Vanguard class submarines armed with Trident
ballistic missiles are not affected because the design is "totally
different". They will remain fully operational.
However, Britain's nuclear deterrent patrols will not escape some impact
from the recall of the hunter killers because one of the key roles of the
Trafalgar class and Swiftsure class boats is to protect the huge Trident
submarines from "enemy" boats when they leave their base at Faslane on the
Clyde and go on patrol.
Now the MoD will have to use other methods of protection during initial
stages of nuclear deterrent patrols, with other Royal Navy assets or the
RAF.
Only two nuclear hunter killer submarines are currently on operation
overseas. As soon as the recall decision was taken in London, Rear Admiral
Robert Stevens, Flag Officer Submarines, sent a signal to them to return
home as quickly as possible.
They are expected back in the next two or three days.
Two other submarines which were about to set off on patrol were ordered to
stay in port. Six others which were in home waters have already been
inspected and similar defects were found in most of them.
Four submarines, HMS Sceptre, Spartan, Trenchant and Torbay, are in deep
refit and will be repaired as part of the programme.
Navy sources said that the submarines still had their nuclear safety
certificates, but it was felt prudent to make sure every boat was inspected
as soon as possible because of the likelihood that all of them suffered from
the same defect. It is not known how much the repairs will cost.
Unsafe British nuclear subs recalled
BY MICHAEL EVANS DEFENCE EDITOR, The Times
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