Able Seaman Criticises Royal Navy’s Trident Submarine Programme

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Able Seaman

Royal Navy submariner William McNeilly has raised concerns over the state of the Royal Navy’s Trident submarine fleet on an online post.  

The Able Seaman who was on patrol with HMS Victorious Trident this year said measures in place around the Trident Programme are a “disaster waiting to happen.”

In a 19 report, titled The Secret Nuclear Threat  published online alongside a picture of his UK passport and Royal Navy identity card, McNeilly said he wanted “to break down the false images of a perfect system that most people envisage exists”

The Vanguard class of nuclear powered ballistic missile carrying submarines are the U.K.’s line of Nuclear  deterrent.
The Engineering Technician Submariner made the allegations of lack of security, maintenance neglect; inadequate systems, checks, safety, food and funds for a Navy, who is involved in a cost cutting program. The Royal Navy disagrees with the ‘very junior’ sailor and is worried for his well being, while his concerns are being looked into.

The whistle-blower claimed he had “sacrificed” his own safety by revealing the secrets. After publishing the revelations, McNeilly had reportedly gone AWOL (absent without leave)

Western Morning News reports:

He claimed there are fire risks and leaks on board and that security checks are rarely carried out on personnel and contractors working on the submarines when they are docked at Faslane.

The Royal Navy confirmed Mr McNeilly is a member of the naval service and said it is “concerned for his whereabouts and wellbeing”.

The Navy said many of the claims are “subjective and unsubstantiated personal views, made by a very junior sailor, with which the naval service completely disagrees”.

Mr McNeilly said he raised concerns with senior officers but decided to publish his claims as they were ignored.

A Royal Navy spokeswoman said: “The Royal Navy takes security and nuclear safety extremely seriously and we are fully investigating both the issue of the unauthorised release of this document and its contents.

Able Seaman
Trident 2 Missile

“The naval service operates its submarine fleet under the most stringent safety regime and submarines do not go to sea unless they are completely safe to do so.”

Peter Burt, of Nuclear Information Service, said: “William McNeilly is a brave young man who has done not only his colleagues in the submarine service but the whole nation a service by exposing the risks that submariners face because of cost-cutting, staff shortages and lax management.

“The Ministry of Defence’s nuclear programme operates to far lower safety standards than the civil nuclear sector because independent regulators are not allowed to scrutinise its activities, and because much is covered up under the pretence of security.

“This must now stop, and the Prime Minister must order an immediate reform of military nuclear safety.”

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