VOA标准英语2009年-British-French Nuclear-armed Submarine Collisio

A British official said nuclear-armed submarines from Britain and France collided deep under the Atlantic Ocean while on separate exercises earlier this month, but limited details are only now emerging.
　
A British Ministry¹ of Defense² handout³ picture of British submarine HMS Vanguard, 16 Feb, 2009

Britain's First Sea Lord, Admiral Jonathon Band made the disclosure after the British sub, HMS Vanguard returned to its home port of Faslane, in western Scotland.

"A few days ago, the submarines came into contact at very low speed. Both submarines remained safe. No injuries occurred. We can confirm the capability⁴ remain unaffected and there was no compromise to nuclear safety," he said.

Britain's Sun newspaper reported the Vanguard returned with dents⁵ and scrapes visible on its hull⁶.

The French defense ministry said its vessel⁷, Le Triomphant, sustained damage to is sonar dome⁸, but it was able to return safely, under it own power, to its base in Brittany and no one on board was injured.

While such collisions are uncommon⁹, nuclear expert John Large said such boats often ply¹⁰ the same waters.

"Both navies want quiet areas, deep areas, roughly the same distance from their home ports. So, you find that these nesting grounds, these station grounds, are pretty, have got quite a few submarines. Not only the French and Royal Navy submarines, but also from Russia and from the United States," he said.

The subs can carry up to 16 nuclear missiles each and both countries have four-vessel nuclear-armed sub fleets.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 handout   

n.散发的文字材料；救济品

参考例句：

• I read the handout carefully.我仔细看了这份分发的资料。
• His job was distributing handout at the street-corner.他的工作是在街头发传单。

4 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

5 dents   

n.花边边饰；凹痕( dent的名词复数 )；凹部；减少；削弱v.使产生凹痕( dent的第三人称单数 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等）

参考例句：

• He hammered out the dents in the metal sheet. 他把金属板上的一些凹痕敲掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Tin dents more easily than steel. 锡比钢容易变瘪。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 hull   

n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳

参考例句：

• The outer surface of ship's hull is very hard.船体的外表面非常坚硬。
• The boat's hull has been staved in by the tremendous seas.小船壳让巨浪打穿了。

7 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

8 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

9 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

10 ply   

v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲

参考例句：

• Taxis licensed to ply for hire at the railway station.许可计程车在火车站候客。
• Ferryboats ply across the English Channel.渡船定期往返于英吉利海峡。