The Great British Embarrassment - SECOND Failure To Launch Sub-Based Trident Missile

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13108987/Grant-Shapps-insists-ministers-absolute-confidence-UKs-nuclear-deterrent-Trident.html

Grant Shapps today insisted the Government retains 'absolute
confidence' in the Trident nuclear deterrent after a test saw
a missile misfire and go 'plop' in the Atlantic.

The Defence Secretary was aboard HMS Vanguard when the
'embarrassing' mishap occurred last month in the Atlantic
off Florida.

The US-made Trident 2 - fitted with a dummy warhead -
successfully 'left the submarine' before a problem saw the
the 58-ton missile sink into the depths next to the ballistic
missile sub, The Sun reported.

The incident marks the second failed launch in a row after
a Trident missile launched from sister sub HMS Vengeance
misfired during a test in 2016.

. . .

BBC dwelt on this all yesterday and today. It really
IS a "crisis of confidence" - and something that might
embolden Russia.

This is the second time in eight years that a test launch
from a Brit submarine failed. Basically the rocket kind of
blooped up a little way and then nose-dived into the sea
not far away. Initial comments spoke of "booster failure",
but that could mean most anything.

Sorry, but two out of two AIN'T GOOD.

The UK only has four ballistic missile subs.

They don't do many tests because each missile is extremely
expensive.

Hmmmm ... when is the last time the USA tested one ???
There really could be a design defect - some critical
little part that ages badly or a corrosion issue.