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
Triomphant-class submarine Triomphant-class submarine The "Triomphant" class of ballistic missile submarines of the French Navy is the active lead boat class of four boats that entered service in 1997, 1999, 2004, and 2010. These four superseded the older , and they provide the ocean-based component (the "Force océanique stratégique") of France's nuclear deterrent strike force, the "Force de Frappe". Their home port is Île Longue, Brest, Western Brittany. The first three boats are all armed with the French-produced and armed M45 intermediate-range missile, and the fourth vessel, , has tested and is equipped with the more advanced M51 missile. Each of the