Brits Knew About Electrical Fault On Victoria Class

[Aaron]

CBC

TORONTO - Britain's navy knew a decade ago about problems with electrical insulation on the submarines Canada later bought, a published report says.

An electrical fire crippled one of the four refitted subs, HMCS Chicoutimi, last month, killing Lieut. Chris Saunders, 32, and injuring nine others.

The Globe and Mail says the British didn't upgrade insulation on all four subs, never explicitly told Canada's navy about it, and never fully documented repairs it did make.
The newspaper quotes Commodore Roger Westwood, a senior Canadian naval engineer.

The story says both navies later upgraded insulation in one place on the subs, but did not order improvements to the wiring where the fire broke out on the Chicoutimi.

It's believed that arcing along high-voltage lines underneath the captain's cabin caused the Oct. 5 fire.

Since the fatal fire, upgrades have been ordered for the main power line connections under the captain's cabin in Canada's three other subs.

I'm not sure what to say anymore except: I'm glad I'm not a submariner.

[Master of Ossus]

So, is the check in the mail, yet? Britain should give the Canadians a refund.

[Aaron]

So, is the check in the mail, yet? Britain should give the Canadians a refund.

I would tend to agree, except we didn't really buy them. We agreed to wave the fees associated with the British use of CFB Suffield in exchange for the subs.

[Master of Ossus]

So, is the check in the mail, yet? Britain should give the Canadians a refund.

I would tend to agree, except we didn't really buy them. We agreed to wave the fees associated with the British use of CFB Suffield in exchange for the subs.

Man, you guys got shafted. I can't believe the English sons of pig-dogs didn't even tell you about the problem.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Obviously, someone's head is going to roll for this and I guarantee it won't be anyone in gov't.

[Aaron]

Man, you guys got shafted. I can't believe the English sons of pig-dogs didn't even tell you about the problem.

I'm not sure what to believe. I think the Canadian govenment jumped the gun with the Victoria's. But with our limited budget it was the only feasible choice. According to Ma Deuce we have spent over 1 billion $ on them. The original deal worked out to be $400 million. So for the cost of 1 Billion we mioght have got 2 SSK's. Only time will tell how much we wind up spending on them.

[Aaron]

Obviously, someone's head is going to roll for this and I guarantee it won't be anyone in gov't.

Of course not. Some unfortunate military man will pay for it.