HMS Trenchant party video. Described as a "rave" in the tabloids. Apparently no BBQ allowed on the dock so they kept it on the deck. pic.twitter.com/LYWgipJg1p
— Andy Pag (@andybutshorter) April 24, 2020
UK submarine commander probed over ‘rave barbecue’ amid coronavirus lockdown
This submarine commander is in deep trouble.
Cmdr. John Lewis — skipper of the nuclear-powered HMS Trenchant — is in hot water after he ignored lockdown orders amid the coronavirus pandemic and allowed his crew to throw a “rave-themed barbecue” in a Plymouth dockyard, The Sun reported.
Lewis has been sent home on leave and could be booted from the Royal Navy over the boozy bacchanalia, some of which was captured on video that showed sailors drinking beer and dancing as two shipmates acted as DJs earlier this month, according to the news outlet.
Shocked witnesses said the revelry sounded “like an Ibiza beach party.”
The commander, whose attack sub had been on maneuvers for months, had been briefed about the coronavirus lockdown measures when he guided the vessel back to Britain.
“The commander had little awareness of what was going on at home with the pandemic. But he was arrogant. It is very unlikely he will ever command the sub again,” a source told the news outlet.
“Some have sympathy as it was about raising morale after so long at sea,” the source said.
“But it was a direct order to the commanding officer that he wasn’t allowed a barbecue. He said under Queen’s regulations he was allowed to do what he liked with the ship’s company,” the source added.
“He got referred to the captain of the base who referred him to the Rear Admiral of Submarines.”
A Navy rep told The Sun: “An investigation is underway. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Footage of the merriment was first circulated on a blog on Forces Compare, a search engine to compare insurance quotes, but it later was shared on other social media sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp, the Guardian reported.