Today's media includes further reporting on the death of a soldier in Brecon.
Brecon
The death of a soldier on a training exercise in Brecon is covered in The Sun, The Star, The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, The Telegraph, the Daily Mail.
Defence Minister Mike Penning said:
It is with great sadness that I can confirm that an infantry soldier has died in Brecon while conducting pre-course training before attending the Platoon Sergeants’ Battle Course. The safety of our personnel is our absolute priority and, while deaths in training are rare, any death is a tragedy. As well as a police investigation, a Service Inquiry will take place. My thoughts and prayers are with the soldier’s family, friends, and colleagues at this difficult time.
RAF Marham
The Sun reports that two knifemen wielded a blade at an RAF officer outside married quarters at RAF Marham in Norfolk yesterday. The report states that the airman fought off the two men and escaped without injury. The investigation remains a Norfolk police lead and questions should be directed to them in the first instance.
A Royal Air Force spokesperson said:
We are aware of an ongoing police operation in relation to an incident near RAF Marham. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
HMS Ambush
The Sun, The Star, The Telegraph and The Times carry a story about the Royal Navy’s submarine HMS Ambush being involved in a glancing collision with a merchant ship off the coast of Gibraltar.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said:
At approximately 1330 local time yesterday, HMS AMBUSH, an Astute-class submarine, while submerged and conducting a training exercise was involved in a glancing collision with a merchant vessel off the coast of Gibraltar. We are in contact with the merchant vessel and initial indications are that it has not sustained damage.
The submarine suffered some external damage but there is absolutely no damage to her nuclear plant and no member of the ship’s company was injured in the incident.
An immediate investigation is being conducted.
The submarine will be entering Gibraltar later this evening for further checks. There are no safety concerns associated with HMS AMBUSH being alongside.
TYPE 26 FRIGATE DELAYS
Scottish papers claim that the construction of eight new Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy on the Clyde has been delayed by three years.
A Government Spokesperson said:
The UK Government is committed to building ships on the Clyde and to the Type 26 programme. Over the next decade, we will spend around £8 billion on Royal Navy warships and, because Scotland voted to remain part of the UK in 2014, will continue to be an important manufacturing base for them.