Sorry if that sounded like gloating Sinsull, as I guess it did. But I remembered the venom thrown at the Russians (certainly not by everyone) and wondered if the American cock-up might provoke a similar reaction.

And cock-up it certainly was, Alex, if only because there were survivors and civilian witnesses to say what happened. But for that little difficulty, the trawler's loss would probably have been just another seafaring mystery. British subs have sunk at least one (Irish) trawler, and I'd be surprised if American and Russian subs haven't taken out a few.

As for the multiple apologies, I can't see they've got the slightest option about that, particularly in view of why the civilians were there.

Just for a moment, try to imagine what the American reaction might have been if a Japanese or Russian sub had sunk an American trawler in those circumstances.