Sabotage of a warship in Brittany: the strange English precedent – World

Simple coincidence or a real series of intentional degradations? The question arises seriously after the sabotage of the Admiral Ronarc’h frigate, under construction on the Lorient site of Naval Group?. And for good reason: in Scotland, another frigate, this time belonging to the Royal Navy, has also just been the target of malicious acts.

An investigation has been opened. But the similarities between the two cases are striking. On the identities of the targeted warships, first. In both cases, deterrence and intervention frigates. Admiral Ronarc’h, a new generation frigate, on the French side; HMS Glasgow, a type 26 frigate, also a new generation, on the British side. Both under construction, for commissioning in the coming years (2024 for Admiral Ronarc’h, 2026 for HMS Glasgow).

sabotaged cables

Similarity on the period of sabotage, then. The incident at Naval Group Lorient took place “a few weeks ago”. In Scotland, it goes back two weeks.

On the targeted area, finally. These are cables that have been severed. “Several cables”, for Admiral Ronarc’h; “at least sixty”, out of the 23,000 on the warship, for HMS Glasgow.

In both cases, the words are harsh. Dozens of cables “intentionally damaged”, underlines in Scotland BAE Systems, the project manager responsible for the construction and fitting out of HMS Glasgow. French side: “a malicious act”, denounces Naval Group.

Who is behind these malicious acts?

On both sides of the Channel, investigations have been opened. And the hypotheses on the origin are multiple. Isolated act of a disgruntled employee? In Scotland, the UK Defense Journal, a very serious military news site, suggested that the warship may have been sabotaged by a contractor in connection with a payment dispute. The official services do not confirm anything.

Or sabotage in due form, for the benefit of foreign interests? In September 2022, the French Minister for the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, himself alerted to the “risk of sabotage against the production chains of French arms manufacturers”.