>>>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Astute_(S119)#Grounding_incident
>>>>>
>>>>>"One month before the incident, HMS Astute's commanding officer, Commander Andy Coles, was speaking to the BBC: "We have a brand new method of controlling the submarine, which is by platform management system, rather than the old conventional way of doing everything of using your hands. This is all fly-by-wire technology including only an auto pilot rather than a steering column.""
>>>>>
>>>>>Not very "astute", if you ask me :) Talk about laughingstocks.
>>>>
>>>>They've had previous practice. Another one ran aground off Skye in 2002...
>>>
>>>I just Googled "epic fail" because it seems appropriate here. It seems there's an even more apropos Internet meme for this situation, "failboat" or "all aboard the failboat".
>>>
>>>I referenced Windows in the thread title because I understand certain large pieces of naval hardware actually run on it (either NT or 2K IIRC).
>>>
>>>Be afraid... be very afraid...
>>
>>I'd be a bit surprised if our navy were using Windows. I've got a friend who served on the nuclear subs for a few years - I'll ask him and let you know what he said (assuming it's not classified...... )
>
>Hmm...
>
>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/06/ams_goes_windows_for_warships/
>
>However, Astute-class subs apparently run Solaris on SPARC:
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMCS
>
>(Can't be too classified if it's on Wikipedia)

Guess not. That means I wouldn't have to buy him a drink to get the answer (g)