[BBC] A UK defence source said it was unlikely the collision was deliberate.A Russian submarine collided with a Royal Navy warship on patrol in the North Atlantic, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
HMS Northumberland had been tracking the submarine when it hit the ship's sonar - a piece of equipment being trailed hundreds of metres behind it.
The incident, in late 2020, was captured by a television crew filming a documentary.
A UK defence source said it was unlikely the collision was deliberate.
HMS Northumberland was searching for the submarine in the Arctic Circle after it disappeared from the ship's radar, according to Channel 5, which was filming for its Warship: Life at Sea series.
The MoD said the frigate had located the hunter-killer submarine using the towed array sonar - a long tube fitted with sensitive hydrophones to listen under the water.
A periscope was spotted on the surface by the ship's Merlin helicopter before the Russian submarine dived again, hitting HMS Northumberland's sonar.
"One ping only, Vasily"
The film cameras captured the crew shouting: "What the hell was that?".
It is not clear what, if any, damage was suffered by the Russian vessel but the warship had to return to port in Scotland to replace the damaged equipment.
| Courtesy of Skidmark, the Daily Mail has photos, video, and more details. |