Submarine
© EPA
A Plymouth warship fired a torpedo towards a bridge in a training blunder at Devonport Naval Base. Military chiefs have admitted that a training torpedo was fired by error by HMS Argyll on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 12. Military chiefs launched a major investigation yesterday after a Royal Navy warship accidentally fired a torpedo at a nuclear dockyard.

Workers watched in disbelief as the tube-shaped projectile flew 200 yards through the air before blasting a hole in a security fence and slamming into a storage container.

The torpedo was an unarmed version used for testing drills so it merely thudded into the metal container and did not explode.

Nobody was hurt but shocked Navy bosses ordered an urgent investigation into the incident that took place inside a high security area where Britain's nuclear submarines are refuelled and repaired.

Thankfully nobody was injured and the nearby Bailey bridge - a temporary structure used by British forces - was unharmed.

HMS Argyll carries anti-submarine torpedoes, although 'dummy' training models with no explosives were being used on Wednesday.

The Type 23 frigate is equipped with two twin Sting Ray torpedo tubes. Sting Rays, which entered service in 1983, are homing light-weight torpedoes 2.6 metres in length. They weigh a whopping 267kg (or 42 stone) and are packed with 45kg of high explosive in a shaped charge. A Sting Ray can travel up to 11km at a speed of 45 knots (52mph).

A Royal Navy spokesman said: "We can confirm an incident occurred onboard HMS Argyll on Wednesday, March 12, at 3.24 pm, while the ship was alongside at Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth.

"During a training exercise, an inert Test Variant Torpedo (TVT) unexpectedly jettisoned onto the wharf. There was no explosion and no casualties.

"An investigation is now under way to determine the cause of the incident.

"HMS Argyll was conducting a system test when an inert Test Variant Torpedo was jettisoned unexpectedly. The torpedo is not an explosive hazard.

"The result of the investigation will determine what actions will be necessary to avoid any repeat of this incident in the future.

The incident yesterday is the second Armed Forces training blunder The Western Morning News has reported on in as many weeks.