HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant submarine collision HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant submarine collision The submarines HMS "Vanguard" and "Triomphant" collided in the Atlantic Ocean in the night between 3–4 February 2009. Both are nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The Royal Navy's and the French Navy's both sustained damage, but no injuries or radioactivity releases were reported. At the time of the collision, both vessels were submerged and, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, moving "at very low speed"; both are equipped with active and passive sonar, although only the latter is used on an operational patrol. HMS "Vanguard" was on a routine patrol in the Eastern
French submarine Fulton French submarine Fulton The French submarine "Fulton" was a "Joessel"-class diesel-electric attack submarine built for the French Navy between 1913 and 1919. "Fulton" was built in the Arsenal de Cherbourg from 1913 to 1920, entered the French "Marine Nationale" in July 1920 and served until May 1936. "Fulton" was ordered in the French fleet's 1914 program as part of the two ship Joessel class. The ships were designed by Jean Simonot, as a modification of his previous project, "Gustave Zédé", using two Parsons steam turbines with a power of . During construction, though, the idea was abandoned and the ships