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22/10/2010
Grounded Submarine 'Not A Nuclear Incident'
Nuclear submarine HMS Astute has run aground on rocks off the western coast of Scotland.
The Ministry of Defence has played down fears ensuring no injuries were caused and that it was "not a nuclear incident."
The Astute, one of a powerful new fleet of four subs, was commissioned at the end of the summer and described as one of the stealthiest ever built in the UK.
A MoD spokeswoman commented: "This is not a nuclear incident.
"There are no injuries to personnel and the submarine is watertight. There is no indication of any environmental impact."
It is reported that the vessel was surfaced and conducting a "personnel transfer" when its rudder became grounded.
It will be relaunched at high tide.
The 3.5 billion boat was originally launched by the Duchess of Cornwall in June 2007.
The Astute is 328ft long and weighs 7,800 tonnes, equivalent to nearly 1,000 double-decker buses.
Its Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles are capable of delivering pin-point strikes from 1,240 miles with conventional weapons.
The submarine's nuclear reactor means it will not need refuelling once in its entire 25-year life.
(BMcN/CD)
The Ministry of Defence has played down fears ensuring no injuries were caused and that it was "not a nuclear incident."
The Astute, one of a powerful new fleet of four subs, was commissioned at the end of the summer and described as one of the stealthiest ever built in the UK.
A MoD spokeswoman commented: "This is not a nuclear incident.
"There are no injuries to personnel and the submarine is watertight. There is no indication of any environmental impact."
It is reported that the vessel was surfaced and conducting a "personnel transfer" when its rudder became grounded.
It will be relaunched at high tide.
The 3.5 billion boat was originally launched by the Duchess of Cornwall in June 2007.
The Astute is 328ft long and weighs 7,800 tonnes, equivalent to nearly 1,000 double-decker buses.
Its Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles are capable of delivering pin-point strikes from 1,240 miles with conventional weapons.
The submarine's nuclear reactor means it will not need refuelling once in its entire 25-year life.
(BMcN/CD)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Mostly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain reaching parts of Antrim and Down later this evening, The showers will extend westwards overnight, clearing from most places by morning. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
