To be honest I was waiting for Grand Logistics or Think Defence or heck even Information Dissemination to do a story on this sub shooting.
Hasn't happened yet so this is the news so far...
1 dead after shooting aboard UK nuclear sub
By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Jill Lawless, Associated Press
Fri Apr 8, 4:47 pm ET
LONDON – A British sailor aboard a
nuclear-powered submarine apparently shot dead a crew member and
seriously wounded another Friday while the vessel was on a goodwill
visit to an English port, officials said.
The suspect was overpowered by colleagues and visiting dignitaries aboard HMS Astute and arrested on suspicion of murder.
Police and military officials said the
incident was not related to terrorism, but offered few details about
what may have prompted a sailor to open fire during a tour of the
submarine by local officials, including the mayor of Southampton, in
southern England.
Britain's Press Association news agency
reported the dead and injured crewmen were officers, and the suspect a
sentry armed with an SA80 service rifle. Submariners do not routinely
carry loaded firearms aboard ships, but those on sentry duty are armed.
Southampton city council leader Royston Smith
said he was in the submarine's control room when a man entered, said
something, then retreated to a corridor. Two shots rang out before the
man walked back in and opened fire.
"I decided the best form of defense at that point was probably to disarm the chap," Smith told the BBC.
Smith said he and others managed to wrestle the gun away from the suspect and subdue him.
Hampshire Police Chief Superintendent David
Thomas said only that a gun went off aboard the submarine, "which
resulted in two crew members being injured."
"One of these injuries proved fatal. A man,
also a member of the Royal Navy, was arrested at the scene on suspicion
of murder," Thomas said. "Submarine security was not breached as part of
this incident and it is not terrorist-related."
He said the wounded sailor's injuries were "significant," but his condition was stable.
The Defense Ministry said it would not release the names of the dead and injured until their families had been informed.
Defense Secretary Liam Fox said he was saddened by the "tragic incident."
Police said they were called to the shooting
just after 12 p.m. (1100 GMT, 7:00 a.m. EDT). They said all of the
approximately 30 people aboard the submarine at the time would be
interviewed as witnesses.
The submarine, which is based in Scotland, was on a five-day visit to Southampton.
The 1 billion pound ($1.6 billion) vessel is
one of Britain's fleet of 11 nuclear-powered submarines, armed with
Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. Its reactor is
designed to last for the vessel's 25-year operational life, meaning it
will never need to be refueled.
The 328-foot-long (100-meter-long)
submarine's short career has been dogged by problems. Originally, due to
enter service in 2005, it began active duty in 2010, years behind
schedule and millions of dollars over budget.
In October, the Astute hit rocks and ran
aground near the Isle of Skye off the west coast of Scotland. It was
stuck for several hours until it was towed to safety. The vessel's
commander was later removed from his post.
The Defense Ministry said it planned to open a Royal Navy investigation into Friday's shooting.
Ships traditionally had detachments of Marines on board to provide both external AND internal security. I don't know if its ever been done on submarines. After this incident it might be time to consider it.
