NAVY FLOP: British nuclear sub missile launch FAILS as Trident dramatically misfires and ‘plops’ into ocean just yards away

A TRIDENT missile dramatically misfired and crashed into the ocean yards from the British nuclear submarine that launched it, The Sun can reveal.

The second failed launch in a row – after a misfire in 2016 – happened while Defence Secretary Grant Shapps was on board HMS Vanguard to witness the test.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed an “anomaly occurred” during the January 30 exercise off Florida, but the nuclear deterrent remains “effective”.

The crew on the nuclear sub perfectly completed their doomsday drill, and the Trident 2 missile was propelled into the air by compressed gas in the launch tube.

But its first stage boosters did not ignite and the 58-ton missile – fitted with dummy warheads – splashed into the ocean and sank.

A source said: “It left the submarine but it just went plop, right next to them.”

HMS Vanguard was under the surface, hovering at launch depth, but was not hit by the 44ft missile as it plunged back into the Atlantic.

Immediately, a frantic probe began to find out what went wrong and a search ordered to recover the top-secret missile technology from the seabed at Port Canaveral, Florida.

It is the second failed test since 2016, when a Trident fired from HMS Vengeance veered off course and self-destructed.

But, despite the setback, officials insist they are confident that the misfire was “event specific”.

‘ANOMALY OCCURED’

Crucially, it is understood that had the firing taken place on a real patrol mission rather than under test conditions it would have been successful.

No further details are being made public about what went wrong on the grounds of “national security”.

In a statement issued to The Sun, the Ministry of Defence said: “HMS Vanguard and her crew have been proven fully capable of operating the UK’s Continuous At-Sea Deterrent, passing all tests during a recent demonstration and shakedown operation (DASO) – a routine test to confirm that the submarine can return to service following deep maintenance work.

“The test has reaffirmed the effectiveness of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, in which we have absolute confidence. During the test an anomaly occurred.

“As a matter of national security, we cannot provide further information on this, however we are confident that the anomaly was event specific, and therefore there are no implications for the reliability of the wider Trident missile systems and stockpile.

“The UK’s nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective.”

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