Gun Control: A Macro View

Baketech · 10-08-2004, 4:42 PM

Concerning gun control....why the heck does Canada need submarines anyway....

Quote:

Crippled Canadian sub under tow, bound for Scotland

LONDON (AFP) - The British-built Canadian submarine HMCS Chicoutimi, crippled since a fire at sea that killed one of its crew, was under tow, headed for Scotland where it was likely to arrive early next week.

Two salvage tugs, accompanied by British and Irish naval escorts, were towing the lame sub at 3.5 knots (6.5 kilometres, four miles) an hour off County Mayo, western Ireland.

"The potential for advancing or targeting her arrival in Faslane (a Royal Navy submarine base in Scotland) will depend on the weather, tide and currents, and of course the robustness of the towing assembly," said Commodore Tyrone Pile, commander of Canada's Atlantic fleet.

In Ottawa, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin delayed a visit to Russia, France and Hungary by 48 hours Friday in order to attend the return of the remains of Lieutenant Chris Saunders, the lone fatality of the submarine fire.

The Chicoutimi, the last of four refitted submarines that Canada has bought from Britain, set off from Faslane only last weekend, heading for Halifax, Nova Scotia on its maiden voyage under the maple leaf flag.

But while it was submerged, it was stricken by an apparent electrical fire off northwest Ireland on Tuesday, with nine of its 57 crew suffering smoke inhalation.

Three of the injured sailors were airlifted Wednesday to Sligo, northwest Ireland, where Saunders was declared dead. A second seaman was moved into intensive care Thursday, while the third was reported in stable condition.

Poor weather foiled attempts to put the Chicoutimi under tow under late Thursday, as a Canadian frigate, HMCS Saint John's, set off from Newfoundland to join it.

Faslane, on Scotland's west coast, was the point from which the Chicoutimi began its ill-fated voyage after its refit and a formal hand-over ceremony.

The sub's commander Luc Pelletier heaped praise on his crew Thursday, saying "I have a bunch of rock stars on board, and I would sail anywhere with these guys," according to a Canadian navy spokesman.

Pile, speaking to reporters from Halifax, said the remaining injured seamen, and most of the rest of the crew, would be shifted to the Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose "to have a shower, hot meal and change".

He added that, according to Pelletier, morale among the submariners was "excellent," and that some have been able to send e-mails to their families from the accompanying Royal Navy ships.

The Chicoutimi was the last of four mothballed, conventional-powered submarines that Canada acquired from Britain's Ministry of Defence as part of an ongoing modernisation of its sorely under-equipped armed services.

Its three sister subs have all been dogged by problems, including leaks and, in one case, a dented hull. Some reports say Ottawa might sue London; others say the vessels were sold under warranty.

In Ottawa on Thursday, where Martin's minority government survived an unrelated non-confidence motion, opposition leader Stephen Harper demanded "a fully inquiry" into the Chicoutimi affair.

He said the submarine had "a history of safety concerns" including cracks in engine valves, plugged turbine pumps, leaks, engine malfunctions, "and rust problems that restricted it from deep dives".

Canada's Defence Minister Bill Graham replied that it would be up to the Canadian Forces to determine when to hold an inquiry.