By news agencies
An investigation is under way after a 9ft missile was fired from HMS Argyll at high security Plymouth nuclear submarine dockyard during training drill
HMS Argyll was moored at Devonport Naval base in Plymouth when the 9ft missile suddenly shot out of its starboard side during a training drill.
Workers watched in disbelief as the tube-shaped projectile flew through the air before blasting a hole in a security fence and slamming into a storage container.
The torpedo was an unarmed version used for testing drills so it merely thudded into the metal container and did not explode.
Nobody was hurt but shocked Navy bosses ordered an urgent investigation into the incident that took place inside a high security area where Britain’s nuclear submarines are refuelled and repaired.
HMS Argyll is currently the oldest serving Duke Type 23 frigate in the Royal Navy having been launched in 1989.
But the 4,900 tonne vessel underwent a £20million refit in 2009 to ensure her weaponry was at the cutting edge of naval warfare.
Its armaments include sea wolf anti-aircraft missiles, harpoon launchers, a 4.5 inch mk8 cannon and two twin 12.75 inch sting ray torpedo tubes.
The self-propelled torpedoes are armed with 45kg warheads to take out enemy submarines that they lock onto with acoustic homing sensors.
A source said: “The torpedo came shooting out of the side of Argyll and flew through the air before going straight through a security fence.
“It’s carried on going before hitting a storage container. If anyone was inside it they would have a had a nasty shock – the whole side of the container was stoved in.
“Had the thing been armed it would have let out a 200-metre blast. You could be talking about a major loss of life…
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WebInvestigator.KK.org - by F. Kaskais 
Reblogged this on Johnsono ne'Blog'as and commented:
“coincidence”
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