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 Z when she was struck from the Navy list. French submarine Z The French submarine "Z" was an experimental submarine built for the French Navy between 1902 and 1905. It was laid down in April 1902, launched in March 1904 and completed in 1905. Designed by Gabriel Maugas, "Z" was essentially an experimental submarine and it was the first French submarine to be commissioned with a diesel engine although was the first to be launched. The submarine had a surfaced displacement of and a submerged displacement of . Her dimensions were long, with a beam of and a draught of .