INVESTIGATION: Over 100 security incidents at MoD nuclear weapons body
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HMS AUDACIOUS ARRIVES AT CLYDE HOME
HMS Audacious, the fourth of the Royal Navys Astute-class submarines, has arrived at her new home at HM Naval Base Clyde.
The new submarine and her 98-strong crew arrived at the Naval Base in Argyll and Bute today (April 7), flying the White Ensign after sailing from BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness.
Welcoming the vessel to her new home were members of the Submarine Flotilla SUBFLOT based at Clyde.
It is with great excitement that we welcome HMS Audacious to the Clyde, joining her three sister submarines, said Commodore Jim Perks OBE, Head of the Submarine Service.
HMS Audacious represents an ever improving example of the world-leading Astute class submarine. She is right at the cutting-edge of technology, built here in the UK by our own people. She will provide the country with remarkable security at sea to protect our nations interests.
HMS Audacious will join sister-submarines HMS Astute, HMS Ambush and HMS Artful which are already in-service and operating from Faslane. A further three boats named Anson, Agamemnon and Agincourt - are currently under construction at BAE in Barrow.
The Astute-class vessels are among the most sophisticated submarines ever constructed for the RoyalNavy.
By Paul Dobson in The Ferret
An arm of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) which oversees the UK’s nuclear weapons programme has refused to release details of over 100 security incidents it logged over the last five years, prompting accusations of a “cover up”.
According to new figures – released to The Ferret after a freedom of information (FoI) request – the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) has recorded 113 ‘security concerns’ since 2017-18.
The DNO said these incidents may have ranged from minor breaches of security policies to the outright loss of information.
But despite claiming that many of the reported incidents would not have “significant ramifications”, the organisation refused to provide descriptions of any.
It cited national security concerns and fears about damaging the UK’s reputation internationally. The DNO is responsible for all issues related to the UK’s nuclear weapons – apart from military operations.
The DNO is based at the MoD’s headquarters in London but also has staff stationed around Britain, including at the Coulport base, on Loch Long, where the UK’s nuclear warheads are stored.
