'The Irish were the first to turn up': The sub, the fire, and the rescue effort

Twenty years after the incident there are no plans by either the Canadian Government or navy to commemorate the courage of the Chicoutimi crew or to honour Lt Saunders. Something which rankles with the President of the Canadian Veterans Association

Royal Navy crew members from the frigates HMS Montrose and HMS Marlborough prepare line hawsers for the tow to safety of Canadian submarine HMCS Chicoutimi on Friday, October 8, 2004. File photo: Navy/Crown Copyright

The LE Aoife had just weighed anchor and was sailing out of Schull harbour on a routine maritime patrol when the sudden order came through from HQ: “Proceed with full dispatch” to the Northwest coast.

It was the first and only time Commanding Officer Lt Cdr Peter Twomey would ever be given such an order in a 40-year naval career. “It actually authorized me to accept damage to the ship,” the now-retired captain said, recalling that Wednesday morning on October 6, 2004.