Submarines collide in Atlantic

By Peter Griffiths

LONDON (Reuters) - Two nuclear-armed submarines from Britain and France collided while on separate patrols in the Atlantic Ocean but there were no injuries or radioactive leaks, naval officials said on Monday.

Analysts said a major disaster could have resulted had the underwater collision ruptured the hulls, set off conventional ammunition or started a fire, although the chances of a full nuclear explosion were virtually nil.

The nuclear-powered submarines collided earlier this month but there was no damage to the vessels' weapons, said First Sea Lord Admiral Jonathon Band, head of the Royal Navy.

British and French officials have so far failed to explain how two sophisticated vessels from allied nations could collide in open water, a highly unusual event that is deeply embarrassing for both navies.

"The submarines came into contact at very low speeds, both submarines remain safe and no injuries occurred, " he told a news conference in London.

"There was no compromise to nuclear safety."

Both submarines were badly damaged and had to return to port, newspapers reported. Band and the British and French defence ministries would not comment on those reports.

The French navy issued a statement earlier this month saying its submarine, Le Triomphant, had hit a "submerged object, probably a container." The impact damaged to its sonar dome and it had to return to France for repairs.