A United States Navy report into the deaths of two submariners off the Devon coast says a harbour pilot gave the crew "poor advice" about the weather. The sailors died after being swept off the USS Minneapolis-St Paul in strong winds in Plymouth Sound in December.
The report also claimed the Royal Navy had not shared details of a similar incident a few months earlier.
A spokesman for the union Prospect, which represents harbour pilots, said the criticism was "unbelievable".
A Royal Navy spokesman said they welcomed the report and were working with the US Navy.
Comment: The only surprise here is that it took this long for the finger pointing to get started.Cordially, Michael H. Standart Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon