A British and a French nuclear submarine collided in the North Atlantic in early February 2009, with neither crew initially aware of what their vessel had struck. HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant belong to the newest generation of ballistic missile submarines, boats built to run deep and silent without emitting active sonar.
The stealth that defines these vessels was central to the confusion. The French commander assumed he had hit a shipping container and turned for Brest. Only when both navies independently reported damage did a British inspection confirm the two had struck each other. French Defense Minister Hervé Morin captured the paradox: "These submarines are undetectable, they make less noise than a shrimp."
NATO officials said the alliance plays no role in coordinating nuclear ballistic submarine movements, which each country holds as a national secret. France shares patrol zones for its attack submarines with allies, but the nuclear missile fleet operates on an entirely separate basis. Allied headquarters in Brussels is considered vulnerable to information leaks and is kept out of the loop on the most sensitive vessels.
Both governments said nuclear safety was never at risk and that deterrent capability remained intact. France has operated a sea-based nuclear force since 1971 with three active submarines and a fourth completing sea trials. Britain runs four, keeping one on deterrent patrol at all times. A NATO officer said a formal inquiry was still required, noting that attributing the collision to bad luck alone was not a sufficient conclusion.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in February 2009, in its own words.