British Nuclear sub crashes after 'tracing paper blunder'

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A British nuclear submarine crashed into the seabed after tracing paper was used to help plot its course during a training exercise, obscuring vital symbols from student commanders, reports said Friday.

oops
 
Sound's like a silly training error, though I'm sure this type of 'manual' mission is necessary in order to keep the crew aware of how to direct it. Although a lack of care, ie post-it notes over the map doesn't make that much sense...
 
Tbh it doesn't suprise me. A few years ago my dad was teaching Trig at a nautical college where I live, the guys he was teaching said "Why do we have to learn all this? The computer does it all for us".
 
back to basics navigation

if everything fails at least they will know how to navigate with a sea chart and basic instruments

Yup

Only a fool relies on complicated technology as the only way to do something vital when there are other methods available.

Just because you've got GPS and inertial navigation doesn't mean you ever want to become completely reliant on them if your life depends on (relatively) accurate navigation.
"What's that Cap'n we're to sit here until tech support can get a boat out to replace our computer system, what about that unfriendly sub that's been following us?"
 
It was back in 2002 that this happened, not exactly recent news.

The tracing paper was put over the charts to stop the trainees from writing on the charts directly (which is what they would do if they had to, I suspect) However, the tracing paper blocked out some important details of the charts.

Why they couldn't have used acetate like you would use with an OHP, I have no idea.
 
I suspect it could be a matter using "what's to hand" (as might be the case in an emergency), or worries about fumes if acetate catches fire or reacts to something else.
I'm hazarding a guess that in a sub if they've got the choice between two materials that have similar properties for the job they want, they'll go for the one that has less potential hazards, especially when it comes to smoke/fumes.

It's also possible the tracing paper is/was used for something else on board (engineering, plotting targets?), in which case it makes sense given a choice to take a larger supply of something with multiple uses, than two supplies that have one use.
Reading the article the tracing paper itself wasn't at fault, but rather the amount of stuff on it (notes, post it notes etc), which would cause problems regardless of what was used.

Anyway it's better that they make the mistake and put the ship out of action on a training exercise than in actual combat (and i'm betting they couldn't get the same real feeling in any simulator).
 
It's a rather suspect article, trying to sensationalise the matter;

As well as tracing paper, Post-It notes were also stuck on maps while the sub's satellite navigation system was turned off.
why can't they go on to say it was turned off as part of the training exercise, rather then highlighting it in an attempt to display idiocy?
 
Yup

Only a fool relies on complicated technology as the only way to do something vital when there are other methods available.

Just because you've got GPS and inertial navigation doesn't mean you ever want to become completely reliant on them if your life depends on (relatively) accurate navigation.
"What's that Cap'n we're to sit here until tech support can get a boat out to replace our computer system, what about that unfriendly sub that's been following us?"

Subs run on charts.. well according to Hunt for Red October..

Well all the charts are made by complicated electronics too so submarines are doubly fubarred :D

They could have used a plumbline to get the depth... pfft..
 
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