British nuke sub on her way to Malvinas, UK newspaper

British nuke submarine HMS Talent was dispatched last night to the Malvinas Islands with Tomahawk warheads on what could be a warning signal to Argentina, according to UK’s sensationalist tabloid The Sun.

As tensions simmer on the 30th anniversary of the 1982 armed conflict between Argentina and the NATO, the Trafalgar-class “hunter-killer” vessel slipped into Simon’s Town dock in Cape Town, South Africa last week under a cloak of secrecy.

According to the The Sun, UK Defence insiders confirmed the sub was ready for a lengthy deployment around the South Atlantic Archipelago.

Thus, the Talent will arrive in good time for June 14 — the anniversary of the day the British task force ended a 74-day Argentine occupation of the islands.

A source said: “Final preparations are being made in South Africa before a deployment to the South Atlantic. HMS Talent will be dropping by the Falklands and keeping watch. That’s what she is built to do — protect Britain’s interests. And that is what she will be doing this summer.”

HMS Talent — built to hunt down and destroy subs and warships — arrived in South Africa on Tuesday after quietly requesting a nuclear permit for a visit between May 10 and 30.

She is expected to leave this week. Her presence in the South Atlantic will quell fears of any misguided stunts by Argentina on the June 14 anniversary.

Since launching in 1988 HMS Talent has conducted operations worldwide in her principal role as a hunter-killer.

But she can be deployed in a surveillance role — and is fitted with cameras and thermal-imaging periscopes.