Nuclear submarine which hit rock may have to be scrapped

The Clyde-based nuclear attack submarine which collided with an underwater rock in the Red Sea on Monday could be scrapped if damage to her sonar is judged to be too expensive to repair, according to Whitehall sources.

HMS Superb, known to her crews as "Super B", has been in service for almost 32 years. She is the oldest attack boat in the Royal Navy and one of only two Swiftsure-class submarines still operational.

The Ministry of Defence refused yesterday for security reasons to discuss the stricken boat's intentions or whereabouts, but admitted that she was unable to submerge and faced a 4000-mile transit back to the UK above the waves unless a berth could be found en route to carry out repairs.

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