Unfathomable Submarine Quote of the Month (29 AUG 2016)

BACKGROUND

MELBOURNE, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- A French shipbuilder plans to seek an injunction to prevent further publication of information contained in 22,400 secret documents about stealth submarines built for India. 

UNFATHOMABLE Quotes  

First, with previously hidden Scorpene data now revealed...

"Any leak of information is viewed very seriously. We have viewed the leak of Scorpene data very seriously and we have asked (French firm) DCNS to launch an urgent investigation into this." - Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, Indian Navy 

Yet, before mitigation measures are even identified and certainly unimplemented... 

"This is not a matter of much worry. The committee is analysing and they will see what data has been compromised and what mitigation steps have to be taken." - Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, Indian Navy 

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Retired Rear Adm. John Padgett, former commander of U.S. Pacific fleet Submarine Force, warned the leaks would undermine confidence in ability of French companies to protect classified information. Padgett, also the current president of the U.S. Naval Submarine League, said, "It is never good for an opponent to have your playbook."

He said "aggressive action" is needed to investigate the leak and France should share the outcome with Australia.

M. E. Comment:  According to today's NDTV article (Press Trust of India),  the high-level review committee responsible for analysing risks connected with the leak(s) will issue its findings to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in three weeks ( by September 20 ).
Also, some of the pages leaked cover top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with French company DCNS in a project worth more than $3 billion. DCNS also recently won a contract to design Australia's new $50 billion submarine fleet.

Submarines are always silent and strange.

Pretty Good Cover Up or an In-port Fire of No Consequence

Background

While US ballistic missile subs are designated SSBNs, the official French designation is SNLE-NG (Sous-Marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins de Nouvelle Génération).

Since 1972, ’Île Longue (Long Island) located in the Atlantic harbor at Brest, has been the homeport of France's 4 ballistic missile subs. ’Île Longue provides maintenance between deterrent patrols as well as depots for storage of nuclear warheads and reactor fuel. Naturally the’Île Longue base is home to two or more highly-classified nuclear installations.

The French ballistic missile submarine Triomphant (S616) entered active service in March of 1997.  On a night in early February of 2009, Triomphant collided with the Royal Navy submarine HMS Vanguard.    Le Triomphant, the oldest of its class, reportedly proceeded to Brest submerged with extensive damages to her sonar dome.   

This will probably not be news to members of various wardrooms, sub groups, etc. and others with access to classified intel.
 

Belated News that dies or Sketchy Leak with Legs?

Published November 21, 2015  |   By Editor -
(The incident dates back to August 2015):

Île Longue. Un incendie sur le Triomphant en travaux  (untranslated)
Reportedly, a fire broke out in the boiler of nuclear submarine Le Triomphant which was docked in its base Ile Longue (Finistère). Since August 4, the crew has resumed onboard operations with normal work restored.  

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M.E. Note:  Readers need to be aware of a language peculiarity we found.  Apparently, the term "boiler" can be confused in translation with "nuclear reactor vessel". Decide for yourselves:

" ...fuel elements of her nuclear boiler...".    

"Nuclear boiler" [reactor fire ? ]. See what we mean?  It is very easy to understand why a related incident in a strategic nuclear sub would have been highly classified by national secrecy and placed beneath the reach of the French press.  

What is very difficult to understand is the misplaced patriotism or political leanings of those responsible for leaking such an item in the midst of France's internal terrorism scare.  

To those enemies of France and the free world Molten Eagle says,

Vive la France !  (translation: Long live France!)

Submarines are always silent and strange.

 

When the last informed are the least informed

Background 

In last week's (Submarine Quote of the Week) we provided an example of subject matter experts' superior opinion over a lesser informed defense analyst's opinion.

Today, a British journalist misguides readers with equivalent lunacy involving an alleged "Polish" pedestrian thief:

Secret nuclear submarine documents stolen from neighbour, court hears - 23 MAR 2015 The Guardian uk-news

Mr. Kostrzewa, 31, was accused of stealing documents from a neighbour who worked as an engineer at the naval base in Devonport, Plymouth.  He allegedly took documents from next doorneighbour’s airing cupboard and attempted to sell them for £50,000 to Polish embassy. 

What is Wrong With This Submarine Secrets Story?

(Hints are underlined and M.E.'s questions are colored)  

• "Using stolen keys, Marcin Kostrzewa, 31, broke into the flat of his next door neighbour, who worked as an engineer on submarines, and took the documents, the jury was told."    Accomplice?

• "The jury heard that Spencer was working as an engineer at the naval base in Devonport, Plymouth, and from time to time took home documents to work on."   Prohibited?

•  "Kostrzewa, a Polish national, searched the internet using terms including “spies” and “secret documents” and contacted the Polish embassy to try to sell the information, but was caught in a sting operation, it was claimed."   Turned in by Polish Embassy?

• "Alexander Chalk, prosecuting, told the jury at Plymouth crown court that Kostrzewa had committed a “slightly unusual burglary”. He said Kostrzewa broke into Shane Spencer’s flat between January and April 2014 and stole “sensitive or secret material”, which was stored in the engineer’s airing cupboard."   What is an airing cupboard?  ( a warm cupboard for drying washed clothes)  Was Shane Spencer the real target, and had he been set up by his ex who gave Kostrzewa a copy of the key to Spencer's flat?  Would the submarine's hull numbers (see photo) be considered sensitive?

 The reading public is being kept in the dark.

Submarines are always silent and strange.