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Scottish Sun
02-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Drunk senior navy officer launched ‘disgraceful' attack at Scots nuclear base
A NAVY commander swerved jail after head-butting a Royal Marine Sergeant Major in a drunken brawl at a Scots nuclear base. Lt Commander Gary Fletcher, 34, behaved like a 'taproom bruiser' in a booze-fuelled fist fight at HMNB Clyde, home of the UK's Trident 2 nuclear armed submarines. 1 Commander Gary Fletcher behaved like a 'taproom bruiser' in a booze-fuelled fist fight at HMNB Clyde Credit: Alamy Fletcher attacked Warrant Officer Hamish Robb, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 43 Commando, after a boxing competition on the base. A court heard the pair then thrashed around on the floor as RSM Robb tried to restrain the "aggressive and agitated" senior officer. Judge Advocate Andrew Smith slammed Fletcher's conduct as 'disgraceful'. He sentenced him to two years loss of seniority, which means to £1700 docked from his salary, an official reprimand and a ban on promotion for two years. It will also affect his military pension. Judge Smith said: "You behaved like a taproom bruiser." It comes after three submarine officers were stripped of their OBEs following sex abuse and bullying scandals. And the former First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key is currently suspended pending an investigation into an alleged affair with a subordinate. Judge Smith acknowledged Fletcher had been injured in the Faslane fight, but said: "That is down to nothing other than your own disgraceful actions." He added: "This aberration on your part is likely to have a significant knock-on effect throughout your career for a number of years but you can put it behind you and can go on." Sailor investigated over 'stealing secrets' from nuclear submarine at Scots base The military court at Catterick, North Yorks, heard Lt Cdr Fletcher had been "anxious" about attending the event because a person involved in his recent relationship break-up was attending. Major Jon Harris, prosecuting, told the court: "On October 10th 2024 there had been a boxing event at Hm naval base Clyde which Lt Cdr Fletcher attended and had been drinking heavily in the senior rates mess. Witnesses described him as intoxicated. "He left the mess and was trying to re-enter the mess when he was met by Regimental Sergeant Major Robb, who was assisting officers in leaving the mess. "Lt Cdr Fletcher became agitated and aggressive and headbutted and punched W1 Robb, who tried to restrain him. "The two men ended up on the floor, with Lt Cdr Fletcher flailing his arms and legs. 'His knee hit W1 Robb causing bruising to both eyes and a cut under his left eye. "Lt Cdr Fletcher left the scene on his own after the two were separated." Military police were called and found Fletcher asleep in his quarters. On seeing he had facial bruising, an ambulance was called. Lt Cdr Fletcher launched a tirade at both police and ambulance staff, which was described as "vulgar and rude" by the military police officers who went to arrest him. The court was told Fletcher previously had a spotless reputation in the service and was awarded a four star commendation earlier in 2024. He had served with distinction on a Royal Navy warship in support operations in the Middle East, the hearing was told. His commanding officer at HMS Neptune, Commander John Fletcher, said he had "excelled" as a logistics officer and had "a great sense of departmental pride and identity. In a statement, Cdr Fletcher told the court: "He has set about rebuilding and strengthening professional relationships with humility and honesty, which is a testament to his character. "He is calm, measured and thoughtful in response to stresses and I have seen no further evidence of him drinking to excess. "He is a good person, an empathetic leader and professionally competent logistics officer who made a mistake in drinking to excess and behaving in an uncharacteristic way." James Hay, mitigating, said Fletcher had "significant personal challenges" after the break-up of a relationship. A person connected to that had been attending the event, which contributed to Lt Cdr. Fletcher's heavy drinking, My Hay said. He added: "He is apologetic about his actions that night and sought to make amends as soon as possible thereafter." Fletcher admitted battery and behaving in a way likely to discredit His Majesty's forces whilst under the influence of alcohol. The court heard he had a previous conviction for drink driving after boozing at a wedding in Devon in 2021. The hearing continues.
Scottish Sun
25-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Royal Navy commander facing six months in jail for drunken assault on a comrade
21 sailors were sacked in the wake of a major misconduct probe last year NAVY NIGHTMARE Royal Navy commander facing six months in jail for drunken assault on a comrade A ROYAL Navy commander faces six months in jail and the sack after drunkenly battering a comrade at a nuclear missile base. Lieutenant Commander Gary Fletcher, who works HMNB Clyde in Faslane, was convicted of 'misconduct through alcohol or drugs' and battery. 1 A Royal Navy commander faces six months in jail and the sack after drunkenly battering a comrade Credit: PA It comes after three former submarine captains were stripped of their OBEs after sex abuse and bullying scandals. A fourth sub commander is due to stand trial for over claims of a drug-fuelled sex assault on a junior. And the former First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key is currently under investigation over an alleged affair with a female subordinate. Lt Cdr Fletcher served as a logistics officer at the doomsday submarine base home to the UK's nuclear deterrent. READ MORE ON NAVY RULE THE WAVES Raging China slams Britain after Navy warship sails through Taiwan Strait He is due to be sentenced on Tuesday. It is the latest scandal to rock the silent service after 21 sailors were sacked in the wake of a major misconduct probe last year. Whistleblower Sophie Brook revealed comrades had made 'crush depth rape lists' of comrades they would assault of their submarine was doomed. Her captain punched her in the kidneys, licked her ear and blew on her neck, an investigation found. The Sun also revealed that another submarine made an x-rated sex film while in command of Trident 2 nuclear missiles on HMS Victorious. In a separate case, Lt Cdr John Cursiter, 46, was charged with possessing illegal drugs, sexual assault and false imprisonment. The former executive officer of HMS Vanguard, a doomsday missile sub, could face up to five years in prison. The UK has four Vanguard class submarines armed with doomsday nuclear missiles and one is always on patrol. It is known as the Continuous At Sea Deterrent and always ready to strike back in the event of nuclear war A Royal Navy spokesperson said: "The Royal Navy holds its personnel to the highest standards of conduct. Any allegations of unacceptable or criminal behaviour are thoroughly investigated, and those found guilty will face serious consequences. 'It would be inappropriate to provide further comment while legal proceedings are taking place'.
Scottish Sun
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Chilling maps show terrifying apocalyptic power of Britain's new air-launched NUKES joining RAF's doomsday arsenal
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHILLING maps show the apocalyptic power of air launched nuclear weapons returning to Britain's doomsday arsenal. RAF Top Guns are set to fly with tactical nuclear weapons for the first time in 30 years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Trident 2 missiles can carry up to eight nuclear warheads Credit: PA 3 F-35 bombers will be based in RAF Marham in Norfolk 3 It comes after the government ordered a dozen nuclear bombers that can carry American bombs. The F-35A bombers – to be based RAF Marham in Norfolk – are certified to carry American B-61 free fall nukes. The bombs are designed to give governments options in a spiralling state-on-state conflict. They are less destructive than doomsday weapons carried in the UK's nuclear deterrent submarines. But even the smallest H-Bomb – known as the B-61 Mod 3 – can engulf a whole city block in a thermo-nuclear fireball. It's payload is the equivalent of 300 tons of TNT explosives. If the bomb was dropped on a city, anyone inside an eight block radius would suffer horrific third degree burns as temperatures from the nuclear explosion can reach tens of millions of degrees celsius. The radioactive fall out would wipe an area the size of 200 football pitches. And if the bomb was primed to explode in the air – a split second before impact – the total blast area would cover an area of 800 football pitches. Larger versions of the B-61with have more than 1000 times more explosive power. Britain to test fire nuke missile in major show-of-force with sub launching 44ft Trident 2 for first time since 2016 But even they are dwarfed by the devastating power of warheads on Britain's Trident 2 missiles. Each Trident 2 missile can carry up to eight nuclear warheads. And the destructive power of each warhead ranges from 90 to 475 kilotons – or the equivalent of 475,000 tons of TNT. The blast radius of an single airburst warhead would flatten homes across an area the size of 12,000 football pitches. The total blast radius would be even bigger. But they warheads are designed to scatter as they plummet to earth from the edge of space – which means a single missile could render a capital totally uninhabitable. A former defence chief told The Sun: 'At the moment Britain has a gap in its arsenal. 'We have Tomahawk cruise missiles and Storm Shadows. 'Both of those can take out a hardened building or a bunker. 'But after that the only thing bigger is Trident.' Vladimir Putin threatened to drop a tactical nuke in 2022 as a terrifying 'show of force' in Ukraine. His troops had been forced to retreat on three fronts – in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson – and he was furious at western support for Ukraine. It triggered a frantic diplomatic effort that saw China and India helping to to convince the tyrant to abort. We have Tomahawk cruise missiles and Storm Shadows. Both of those can take out a hardened building or a bunker Former defence chief The UK scrapped its air-launched nukes in 1998. Before that the WE-177 bomb – known by pilots as 'the shape' – was carried on Tornado jets. The new F-35As will be able to carry conventional and nuclear weapons, like the Tornados before them. Pilots sent on a nuclear raids risk being annihilated the blasts caused by their own weapons. An RAF source: 'These are gravity bombs, so it is not like a Storm Shadow that you can fire 200km from a target. 'It will depend on the size of the blast.' Before the Tornado's Britain's air launched nukes were carried on 'V Bombers' including the Avro Vulcan, which served until 1984. Modern nuclear jets are designed to withstand the deadly electro-magnetic pulse caused by nuclear explosions, which can fry electronics and causing aircraft to crash. Weapons were less precise in the 80s. So the best way to destroy a bridge would have been with a tactical nuke A Top Gun who trained to drop WE-177s During the Cold War the UK's tactical nukes were designed take out Russian infrastructure, including bridges. A Top Gun who trained to drop WE-177s said: 'This was before smart bombs, and guided bombs. 'Weapons were less precise in the 80s. So the best way to destroy a bridge would have been with a tactical nuke.' Britain still makes its own nuclear warheads for the Trident 2 missiles on submarines, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston. But it is not expected to manufacture sovereign nukes for the fleet of F-35As. The RAF said the F-35As will be 'available to fly Nato's nuclear mission in a crisis'. They said it would, 'boost Britain's contribution to 'nuclear burden-sharing and deter those who would do the UK and our allies harm.' The RAF added: 'It reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War.' The US already has deals with a number of Nato nations to host and fly its nuclear bombs. The US Air Force has recently upgraded its nuclear storage bunkers at RAF Lakenheath in Norfolk, where its own F-35As are based.
The Irish Sun
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Chilling maps show terrifying apocalyptic power of Britain's new air-launched NUKES joining RAF's doomsday arsenal
CHILLING maps show the apocalyptic power of air launched nuclear weapons returning to Britain's doomsday arsenal. RAF Top Guns are set to fly with tactical nuclear weapons for the Advertisement 3 Trident 2 missiles can carry up to eight nuclear warheads Credit: PA 3 F-35 bombers will be based in RAF Marham in Norfolk 3 It comes after the government ordered a dozen nuclear bombers that can carry American bombs. The F-35A bombers – to be based RAF Marham in Norfolk – are certified to carry American B-61 free fall nukes. The bombs are designed to give governments options in a spiralling state-on-state conflict. They are less destructive than doomsday weapons carried in the Advertisement But even the smallest H-Bomb – known as the B-61 Mod 3 – can engulf a whole city block in a thermo-nuclear fireball. It's payload is the equivalent of 300 tons of TNT explosives. If the bomb was dropped on a city, anyone inside an eight block radius would suffer The radioactive fall out would wipe an area the size of 200 football pitches. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Latest And if the bomb was primed to explode in the air – a split second before impact – the total blast area would cover an area of 800 football pitches. Larger versions of the B-61with have more than 1000 times more explosive power . Britain to test fire nuke missile in major show-of-force with sub launching 44ft Trident 2 for first time since 2016 But even they are dwarfed by the devastating power of warheads on Each Trident 2 missile can carry up to eight nuclear warheads. Advertisement And the destructive power of each warhead ranges from 90 to 475 kilotons – or the equivalent of 475,000 tons of TNT. The blast radius of an single airburst warhead would flatten homes across an area the size of 12,000 football pitches. The total blast radius would be even bigger. But they warheads are designed to scatter as they plummet to earth from the edge of space – which means a single missile could render a capital totally uninhabitable. Advertisement A former defence chief told The Sun: 'At the moment Britain has a gap in its arsenal . 'We have Tomahawk cruise missiles and Storm Shadows. 'Both of those can take out a hardened building or a bunker. 'But after that the only thing bigger is Trident.' Advertisement Vladimir Putin threatened to drop a tactical nuke in 2022 as a terrifying 'show of force' in Ukraine . His troops had been forced to retreat on three fronts – in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson – and he was furious at western support for Ukraine. It triggered a frantic diplomatic effort that saw China and India helping to to convince the tyrant to abort. We have Tomahawk cruise missiles and Storm Shadows. Both of those can take out a hardened building or a bunker Former defence chief The UK scrapped its air-launched nukes in 1998. Advertisement Before that the WE-177 bomb – known by pilots as 'the shape' – was carried on Tornado jets. The new F-35As will be able to carry conventional and nuclear weapons, like the Tornados before them. Pilots sent on a nuclear raids risk being annihilated the blasts caused by their own weapons. An RAF source: 'These are gravity bombs, so it is not like a Storm Shadow that you can fire 200km from a target . Advertisement 'It will depend on the size of the blast.' Before the Tornado's Britain's air launched nukes were carried on 'V Bombers' including the Avro Vulcan, which served until 1984. Weapons were less precise in the 80s. So the best way to destroy a bridge would have been with a tactical nuke A Top Gun who trained to drop WE-177s During the Cold War the UK's tactical nukes were designed take out Russian infrastructure, including bridges. Advertisement A Top Gun who trained to drop WE-177s said: 'This was before smart bombs, and guided bombs. 'Weapons were less precise in the 80s. So the best way to destroy a bridge would have been with a tactical nuke.' Britain still makes its own nuclear warheads for the Trident 2 missiles on submarines, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston. But it is not expected to manufacture sovereign nukes for the fleet of F-35As. Advertisement The RAF said the F-35As will be 'available to fly Nato's nuclear mission in a crisis'. They said it would, 'boost Britain's contribution to 'nuclear burden-sharing and deter those who would do the UK and our allies harm.' The RAF added: 'It reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War.' Read more on the Irish Sun The US already has deals with a number of Nato nations to host and fly its nuclear bombs. Advertisement The US Air Force has recently upgraded its nuclear storage bunkers at RAF Lakenheath in Norfolk, where its own F-35As are based.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Chilling maps show terrifying apocalyptic power of Britain's new air-launched NUKES joining RAF's doomsday arsenal
CHILLING maps show the apocalyptic power of air launched nuclear weapons returning to Britain's doomsday arsenal. RAF Top Guns are set to fly with tactical nuclear weapons for the first time in 30 years. 3 3 It comes after the government ordered a dozen nuclear bombers that can carry American bombs. The F-35A bombers – to be based RAF Marham in Norfolk – are certified to carry American B-61 free fall nukes. The bombs are designed to give governments options in a spiralling state-on-state conflict. They are less destructive than doomsday weapons carried in the UK's nuclear deterrent submarines. But even the smallest H-Bomb – known as the B-61 Mod 3 – can engulf a whole city block in a thermo-nuclear fireball. It's payload is the equivalent of 300 tons of TNT explosives. If the bomb was dropped on a city, anyone inside an eight block radius would suffer horrific third degree burns as temperatures from the nuclear explosion can reach tens of millions of degrees celsius. The radioactive fall out would wipe an area the size of 200 football pitches. And if the bomb was primed to explode in the air – a split second before impact – the total blast area would cover an area of 800 football pitches. Larger versions of the B-61with have more than 1000 times more explosive power. Britain to test fire nuke missile in major show-of-force with sub launching 44ft Trident 2 for first time since 2016 But even they are dwarfed by the devastating power of warheads on Britain's Trident 2 missiles. Each Trident 2 missile can carry up to eight nuclear warheads. And the destructive power of each warhead ranges from 90 to 475 kilotons – or the equivalent of 475,000 tons of TNT. The blast radius of an single airburst warhead would flatten homes across an area the size of 12,000 football pitches. The total blast radius would be even bigger. But they warheads are designed to scatter as they plummet to earth from the edge of space – which means a single missile could render a capital totally uninhabitable. A former defence chief told The Sun: 'At the moment Britain has a gap in its arsenal. 'We have Tomahawk cruise missiles and Storm Shadows. 'Both of those can take out a hardened building or a bunker. 'But after that the only thing bigger is Trident.' Vladimir Putin threatened to drop a tactical nuke in 2022 as a terrifying 'show of force' in Ukraine. His troops had been forced to retreat on three fronts – in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson – and he was furious at western support for Ukraine. It triggered a frantic diplomatic effort that saw China and India helping to to convince the tyrant to abort. We have Tomahawk cruise missiles and Storm Shadows. Both of those can take out a hardened building or a bunker Former defence chief The UK scrapped its air-launched nukes in 1998. Before that the WE-177 bomb – known by pilots as 'the shape' – was carried on Tornado jets. The new F-35As will be able to carry conventional and nuclear weapons, like the Tornados before them. Pilots sent on a nuclear raids risk being annihilated the blasts caused by their own weapons. An RAF source: 'These are gravity bombs, so it is not like a Storm Shadow that you can fire 200km from a target. 'It will depend on the size of the blast.' Before the Tornado's Britain's air launched nukes were carried on 'V Bombers' including the Avro Vulcan, which served until 1984. Modern nuclear jets are designed to withstand the deadly electro-magnetic pulse caused by nuclear explosions, which can fry electronics and causing aircraft to crash. During the Cold War the UK's tactical nukes were designed take out Russian infrastructure, including bridges. A Top Gun who trained to drop WE-177s said: 'This was before smart bombs, and guided bombs. 'Weapons were less precise in the 80s. So the best way to destroy a bridge would have been with a tactical nuke.' Britain still makes its own nuclear warheads for the Trident 2 missiles on submarines, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston. But it is not expected to manufacture sovereign nukes for the fleet of F-35As. The RAF said the F-35As will be 'available to fly Nato's nuclear mission in a crisis'. They said it would, 'boost Britain's contribution to 'nuclear burden-sharing and deter those who would do the UK and our allies harm.' The RAF added: 'It reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War.' The US already has deals with a number of Nato nations to host and fly its nuclear bombs. The US Air Force has recently upgraded its nuclear storage bunkers at RAF Lakenheath in Norfolk, where its own F-35As are based.
