How did an official document detailing a billion-pound submarine to end up at a busy pub's toilet?
The Guardian reports that The UK Royal Navy has recently launched an investigation after documents about the HMS Anson, a £1.3 billion "hunter-killer" submarine found in the toilets of a pub in the UK.
The files, marked as "official sensitive," contain information about the internal workings of the nuclear-powered submarine, including details about how to isolate and depressurize elements of its system.
Although a Royal Navy spokesperson said these are generic training documents without classified information, they take all security matters seriously. They will investigate the circumstances of their discovery.
The United Kingdom's 'Most Capable' Attack Submarine
According to the armed force's official website, the 7,800-ton HMS Anson is the fifth of the Royal Navy's new Astute-class attack submarines to enter service. The submarines can fire Tomahawk missiles and are regarded as the "most capable attack submarine ever built for the Royal Navy."
The Guardian noted in their report that the Furness Railway bar, where the documents were found, is near a BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, where the submarine was previously photographed.
Reports also tell us that the pub is located just a five-minute walk from where workers build the Astute class hunter-killer subs, including the HMS Anson.
What's in the documents?
According to The Sun, the documents discovered in the pub contained critical details about the HMS Anson's hydraulics, which control torpedo hatches, steering, and buoyancy.
It was found in the pub with a Royal Navy lanyard from the new £1.3 billion vessel. A source said the pub was packed when the papers were found on Saturday night. They said, "It was lucky a Russian spy didn't find them."
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According to government guidance, "sensitive" material should only be shared with those with a "genuine need to know" and might have serious implications if lost, stolen, or publicized.
Despite being one level below Secret, the documents are still sensitive and should only be shared with those with clearance.
The Sun also quotes former sub-captain Commander Ryan Ramsay, saying that the documents were part of a reference manual that is readily available on board.
Anyone who had worked on the submarine would have used the manual. "It is good to see their commitment to training, but the pub is probably the wrong place," he said.
According to the Navy, the submarine manufacturing industry provides thousands of job opportunities in the United Kingdom. BAE Systems' submarine programs employ roughly 10,000 people, with thousands more working in the supply chain.
Case with Official Documents Found in Public
This is not the first time that a sensitive document has been found by civilians in public.
BBC reported in 2021 that classified Ministry of Defence documents containing sensitive information about the British military and HMS Defender had been discovered at a bus stop in Kent.
The documents included one set detailing the potential Russian reaction to the ship's passage through Ukrainian waters off the coast of Crimea.
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