The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Royal Navy submarine HMS Superb struck an underwater pinnacle whilst on dived passage through the northern Red Sea yesterday, Monday 26 May 2008. 
HMS Superb
[Picture: Royal Navy]
There were no casualties and the submarine remains watertight, is safe on the surface and able to operate under its own power. The submarine's nuclear reactor is completely unaffected, and there is no environmental impact.
Notwithstanding this, from the initial assessment onboard the submarine, it is clear that there is some damage to her main sonar which prevents her conducting submerged operations. Consequently her programme is being re-considered.
No other vessel, military or civil, was involved in the incident. An investigation into how the grounding occurred is underway and a full Board of Inquiry will be conducted in due course. The families of the crew are in the process of being informed.
HMS Superb is a Swiftsure-class attack submarine displacing 5,200 tonnes submerged. She is 272ft long and has a complement of 112. Her armament includes spearfish torpedoes. She was built by Vickers Shipbuilding at Barrow and commissioned in 1976.
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