Royal Navy Once "Fired Missile Into Wales"
The Royal Navy fired a surface-to-air missile into Wales by accident.
The former head of the Royal Navy, Lord West, said the Seaslug missile was fired into the country when testing went wrong, but the Prime Minister wasn't told.
The missile was designed to target high-flying reconnaissance aircraft and bombers.
While giving evidence to the Commons Defence Committee about last year's failed test of Trident, Lord West said:
"I've been involved in things like, years ago we had a missile called the Seaslug missile and we fired one into Wales. Those sort of things happen but you don't go and talk the Prime Minster about that unless it's in their constituency."
When referring to the testing of Trident, the former First Sea Lord said he found it "inconceivable" that the Prime Minister hadn't been told about the test because the weapons system is so important.
The Seaslug missile was in service between 1961 and 1991.
It was used once during the Falklands War by HMS Antrim but missed its target.
Cover image a Royal Navy file photo of a Seaslug missile test.
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