Two British sailors killed in explosion north of Alaska

[Caldric]

Two British sailors killed in explosion north of Alaska

By MARY PEMBERTON, Associated Press Writer

Published: March 21, 2007
Last Modified: March 21, 2007 at 02:06 PM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Two British sailors were killed in an explosion aboard a Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine in the Arctic Ocean. Another injured crewmember was evacuated to Anchorage, officials said Wednesday.

The explosion happened late Tuesday aboard the HMS Tireless, which was submerged under an ice cap about 170 miles north of Deadhorse. The submarine was conducting a joint exercise with the United States when its air purification system malfunctioned.

According to the U.S. Navy, a self-contained oxygen generation candle exploded. The attack submarine's nuclear reactor was not affected, according to the British Ministry of Defense. The Tireless does not carry nuclear missiles.

The injured sailor was transported by the Alaska Air National Guard from Deadhorse, in northern Alaska's Prudhoe Bay, to Kulis Air National Guard Base in Anchorage, 625 miles away, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to a local hospital.

Officials were not releasing the name of the injured sailor. He was taken to Alaska Regional Hospital where he was in stable condition, said hospital spokeswoman Kjerstin Lastufka.

The Tireless was operating with the USS Alexandria in a joint operation to test submarine operability and tactical development in Arctic waters. The submarine's forward compartment was damaged in the explosion. The submarine was forced to surface quickly through the ice.

The equipment that failed had a 100 percent safety record, according to a Ministry of Defense spokesman. The piece of air-purification equipment was fitted to the submarine as part of an update in 2001.

"I am deeply saddened at the loss of the crew members from the Tireless," said U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Jay Donnelly, commander of the Submarine Force. "We stand by to assist in any way we can."

The Alaska Air National Guard in Anchorage received a call at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday alerting the Rescue Coordination Center of the explosion aboard the British submarine.

An HC-130 refueling tanker was launched from Kulis 57 minutes later, reaching Deadhorse at 1:26 a.m., said Kalei Brooks, spokeswoman for the Alaska Air National Guard. The HC-130 had about six people aboard, including two pararescuemen, a pilot, co-pilot and crew chief.

A private helicopter brought the injured sailor to Deadhorse. The sailor was then taken back to Kulis aboard the HC-130 where an ambulance took him to the hospital.

"He was initially reported to have some burns," Brooks said.

She had no other information on the sailor's condition.

Since 1986, every Arctic tactical exercise has involved both U.S. Navy and Royal Navy submarines.

Lt. Col. Andy Price, spokesman for the Royal Navy, said the submarine, while fully functional, will be evaluated over the next 12 hours to determine whether it will continue to be part of the joint exercises or return to the United Kingdom. Two weeks of exercises are scheduled to end March 30.

Price said the Alaska Air National Guard did an excellent job of getting help for their injured sailor.

"We are entirely grateful to all for the work they've done," he said.

adn.com | alaska wire : Two British sailors killed in explosion north of Alaska

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Alaska Airmen aid injured British Sailor

by Capt. Allen Herritage
Alaskan Command Public Affairs

3/22/2007 - ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNEWS) -- Airmen in Alaska came through for a wounded British Sailor March 21 when he was injured during a deadly explosion aboard the Royal Navy submarine HMS Tireless operating in Arctic waters north of Prudhoe Bay.

The submarine experienced an explosion of a self contained oxygen generation candle that killed two Sailors and injured the third late March 20 while conducting a joint U.S. United Kingdom exercise.

A civilian helicopter contracted by exercise organizers transported the injured Sailor from the scene to the town of Deadhorse, where an Alaska Air National Guard HC-130 aircraft from the 211th Rescue Squadron with pararescuemen aboard from the 212th Rescue Squadron evacuated the injured man.

The patient and a naval medical officer were transported to Kulis Air National Guard Base in Anchorage where an ambulance waited. They were immediately driven to a local civilian hospital for treatment.

The sailor was greeted by a familiar accent when British exchange officer, Wing Commander Geoff Yapp, assigned to Alaska NORAD Region's 611th Air Operations Squadron, met him at the hospital. As the senior British officer in the area, Commander Yapp was contacted while on leave and told of the incident. He quickly returned to Anchorage and met up with his countryman to help him sort out details such as travel home and communication with loved ones back in the United Kingdom.

The injured Sailor was eventually transported to the Elmendorf's hospital for treatment and to await travel home.
Alaska Airmen aid injured British Sailor