HMS Astute Runs Aground Off Scotland

According to the Telegraph, HMS Astute has run aground by the stern while it was conducting a crew swap in shallow water.

“Astute ran aground by her very stern earlier this morning as she was transferring people ashore,” a Navy spokesman said. “There’s no nuclear issue or no environmental issue that we are aware of and no one has been hurt.”

The submarine, which carries a crew of 98, will now wait until later today for tug boats to pull her off when the tide comes in.

Thomas Harding is covering the incident for the Telegraph and has offered more details in this article. According to his report, the tide should come in around 6:00pm this evening and tugs will try to lodge the submarine off the shoals.

This news strikes many obvious thoughts. Yes, yesterday was Trafalgar Day but that doesn't mean anything anymore to the British, and the Royal Navy is so far removed from the days of Nelson the comparison could be used as more of a national insult from Americans like me than an observation. It is also true this comes after the results of the 'strategery' review conducted by the best and brightest in the UK. I wonder if that 'strategery' review built in the cost of business, which includes attrition due to a variety of factors. Unlikely.

After learning this news a few hours ago this morning, I decided to conduct a little experiment. I set up several feeds on my laptop and phone to monitor a few Twitter hash tags like #astute, #submarine, and #RoyalNavy. Bottom line, the Royal Navy is a punchline, and is getting killed by comedy (some of which is very funny). Unfortunately, it highlights how the Royal Navy has no control over the information space. However, what escapes me is how that somehow translates into their apparently belief that they have very little to contribute to the perception of the event. The Royal Navy has a nuclear submarine aground within view of the shore, and more specifically a major bridge, where thousands of people are going to see this in person - and likely care.

It will start as an infinite source of comedy, the irony of the "Astute" running aground. The individuals involved will be made infamous for their mistake, and the accident will be turned into a mockery in future news. This stuff will happen - but there could be more done.

How many people in the UK know that Astute submarines are a double hulled submarine? Are the details of a shore transfer from a submarine to shore top secret? If not, why isn't the process being explained - and put into the context of frequency. Is this the first time a submarine has gone aground in this area despite 100 previous shore transfers? a 1,000? 10,000? Even when bad things happen - or particularly when bad things happen - isn't that the time to broaden the knowledge of an interested audience? What MoD PAO is down at the BBC studios available to jump on live TV or radio to provide up to date information? What about CNNI or other news outlets? I've been streaming the news feed online for at least the last hour, and I haven't seen anyone in either studio.

Think about it though. If a US nuclear submarine was to run aground off the east coast, how would the US Navy react? Would they promote Twitter hash tags to coordinate the humiliating comedy - with the intent of adding knowledge to the stream? Would the US Navy flood the internet with photography of the submarine, knowing full well that images matter? Not just far views where the media is - but up close and personal photos that give the viewer the impression - "I am 7,800 tons of silent steel, and this the only time you will ever see me, if you're lucky."

Would a PAO be dispatched from the New York office to CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC to be in studio, ready for live TV, ready with new information at real time? Considering the number of PAOs in New York City - unlikely.

But Ray - its a digital world, you don't have to be in studio...

Wrong. CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC measure responses to content in real time - TV news has trended towards a 2 way conversation with real time feedback, and if the PAO is at a remote site then there will be no feedback on content contributed by the television medium - only by being in studio does one get to measure responses and react appropriately with speed.

In the UK today, the Royal Navy will suffer another black eye, and the problem is compounded because they do not have the leadership or planning in place as an organization to immediately apply the eye cream - and contribute towards the purpose of giving understanding of Astute class submarines (or the Royal Navy as an organization) to the currently interested population. The moment will pass, no one will care - but the question is will folks learn something in the process? In the UK today, probably not. What about next time?

"Silent Service" indeed. At a time when the Royal Navy budget is suffering because they lack any connection between themselves and the population, an event occurs that puts the Royal Navy on the front page and the Royal Navy does nothing to take advantage of it. Yes, the event itself is not a good thing - but Royal Navy is failing as an organization because they willingly waste an opportunity to communicate themselves to an interested audience.