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[webfact]

British missile test malfunctioned last year off U.S. coast - Sunday Times

REUTERS
 

LONDON (Reuters) - A test firing of an unarmed British nuclear Trident missile from a submarine off the coast of Florida malfunctioned last June, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.

 

The paper quoted an unnamed senior naval source as saying the missile may have veered off in the wrong direction toward the American mainland.

 

The paper said it was the only test firing of a British nuclear missile in four years and came shortly before Theresa May became Prime Minister last year in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

 

It said May had omitted any mention of the failed test when she persuaded parliament to spend 40 billion pounds on new Trident submarines in her first major speech before parliament last July.

 

Parliament, which in 2007 agreed in principle to replace the deterrent system, last year voted to approve the building of four submarines to ensure Britain can have nuclear weapons continuously on patrol at sea.

 

Trident missiles have been test-fired only five times by UK submarines this century because they cost 17 million pounds ($21.03 million) apiece, the paper said.

 

May's office and Britain's Minstry of Defence said in a joint statement: "In June, the Royal Navy conducted a routine unarmed Trident missile test launch from HMS Vengeance, as part of an operation which is designed to certify the submarine and its crew.

 

"Vengeance and her crew were successfully tested and certified, allowing Vengeance to return into service. We have absolute confidence in our independent nuclear deterrent.

 

"We do not provide further details on submarine operations for obvious national security reasons."

 

($1 = 0.8083 pound)

 

(Reporting by Stephen Addison, editing by G Crosse)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-23

[bartender100]

We are turning into North Korea 

[Calach]

Well if it was supposed to always work from the first time they wouldn't do tests, would they. 

[Richard W]

1 hour ago, Calach said:

Well if it was supposed to always work from the first time they wouldn't do tests, would they. 

ฺBut what have they changed?  Possibly the software on the sub has changed, and forgot to tell the missile where it was, and let the system default to 0°E 0°N.  (That does happen in development.)  Unless it's something simple like this, I'd be very worried.

[petermik]

OK so it took the wrong turn,I,m sure the pilot when he realised corrected this ASAP

[harrry]

Or does it really know where the enemy lies.

[nausea]

The malfunction itself is not the problem, hiding it from MPs before a crucial vote is. 

[mtls2005]

Paraphrasing Maxwell Smart: Missed Mar-a-Lago by that much.

[Grouse]

They have tests for good reason

 

They have multiple levels of redundancy for good reason

 

They have four ballistic missile boats for good reason

 

They replace the complete systems from time to time for good reason

 

The nuclear warheads are British for good reason

 

They don't use live warheads for tests for good reason

 

We do not make the results of tests public for good reason.

 

The prime mister WILL have been informed

 

Whoever leaked this information should be accused of high treason.

[Grouse]

Every British PM has to write a sealed note for each ballistic missile submarine commander in case of lost communication and UK under nuclear attack

 

I am reliably informed that the ironic lady's note states "England expects.... BTW do you like my leather trousers?"

Edited January 23, 2017 by Grouse

[Basil B]

                                                                                                                          Korea

An American made missile... nearly as bad as if it had "Made in China ^^^" written on it.

 

 

[Srikcir]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

the missile may have veered off in the wrong direction toward the American mainland.

Maybe not the wrong direction, just didn't reach Trump's Mar Largo.