Date of Incident: 06 November 2002
Returned to Service: Yes
While participating in "Perisher" (the six-month long British training course for prospective submarine commanding officers), HMS Trafalgar, a nuclear powered attack submarine, ran aground off the Isle of Skye. She was in approximately 50 meters of water and travelling at approximately 15 knots. Three crewmen were injured. The student in command at the time received administrative punshment and two instructors were court martialed. The two instructors pled guilty and were repremanded in March 2004.
Initial public reports from the British Ministry of Defense downplayed the extent of the damage, and few photographs of the damage have ever been seen in public. However, repairs at the shipyard in Devonport took 15 months, at a reported cost of £5 million (approximately $8.85 million US Dollars).
HMS Trafalgar only returned to service in April 2004.
(Various news reports)
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