“We believe the sub was an SSBN,” says Celtic League.
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The interim report on the snagging of the MFV Karen by a Royal Navy submarine has been published (see link below).
The Karen, a 55-feet Ardglass prawn trawler, tangled with a submarine in April 2015 and the vessel was violently pulled backwards for several seconds. (See Down News link below for the full story.)
Bernard Moffett of the Celtic League, a watchdog group covering the Irish Sea, said: “There is a dearth of detail although the fact that the submarine was southbound through the Irish Sea and the RN involvement was not admitted for several months suggests that our initial impression that it may have been a RN Ballistic Missile Carrying Sub (SSBN) commencing its deployment was correct.
“If this was the case the MFV Karen had a very lucky escape as a Vanguard class ballistic missile submarine displaces 15,900 tonnes and with a speed of 29mph submerged.
“It’s clear that at one point the stern of the Karen was semi-submerged. On this occasion the swift and astute action of the Karen’s skipper saved the boat and its crew – this skipper deserves an award!”
Related links: http://www.downnews.co.uk/mod-admit-one-of-their-submarines-almost-sank-the-karen/
