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 destroyer Le Triomphant SS "Cedar Mills" and the Dutch cargo ship "Java". The convoy was struck by a cyclone, nearly sinking "Le Triomphant"; with a 45° list, she was taken in tow by the "Cedar Mills". On 10 December, HMS "Frobisher" took the tow, and the tugboat HMRT "Prudent" took over on 15 December, arriving at Diego Suarez on 19 December. She was subsequently sent for refit to the United States, where she remained until March 1945. From May, she served with the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean. In October 1945, along with battleship "Richelieu", "Le Triomphant" escorted troopships bound for French