Warship fires dummy torpedo into nuclear submarine dockyard wharf

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HMS Argyll torpedo accident
An investigation is under way after a Royal Navy warship accidentally fired a torpedo into a dockyard wharf where Britain's nuclear submarines are refuelled and repaired.
Earlier this week, HMS Argyll, a Royal Navy frigate – the oldest Type 23 frigate in the Royal Navy as it happens – was on a training exercise at Devonport dockyard in Plymouth, UK when a torpedo was “unexpectedly jettisoned onto the wharf”.
The navy said the Test Variant torpedo was a dummy weapon which contained no explosives. No one was injured in the incident on Wednesday, but training has been suspended while an investigation is carried out.

Base: The scene at Devonport after a boat accidentally discharged a torpedo earlier this week

Blunder: No one was hurt in the accident, which took place during a training exercise

Blunder: HMS Argyll accidentally filed a torpedo during a training exercise at Devonport naval base

Bang: The 9ft torpedo weighed 45kg and left a large dent in a metal storage container (file photo)

HMS Argyll torpedo accident

Things could have been much, much worse if the anti-submarine torpedo had been live and not just a training dummy. If the torpedo had been carrying explosives, then a 200 metre (600 ft) blast could have caused significant loss of life. The seriousness of the explosion could have been compounded by the fact the Devonport base is the Royal Navy’s largest base, and only nuclear repair and refuelling facility.





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