The captain of a nuclear-powered submarine is under investigation after being filmed having a “rave-themed barbecue” in a Plymouth dockyard. Cmdr John Lewis, the captain of HMS Trenchant, a nuclear-powered attack submarine based at Devonport naval base, has been sent home on leave. He could face dismissal from his role over the incident earlier this month. Footage of the crew showed sailors dancing and laughing, and a source told the BBC some were drinking alcohol. The submarine had been on patrol before having to return to Devonport for repairs. The crew were expected to stay with the submarine in isolation while the repairs were completed. The Royal Navy has placed Lewis under “administrative investigation” over concerns about his judgment. It is alleged that Lewis ignored instructions from his superiors not to approve an impromptu social event when his boat arrived at the naval base. The crew had reportedly been on a mission for several weeks but instead of returning home they were told to remain in quarantine. Footage of the party was first shared on a blog on Forces Compare, an independent search engine to compare insurance quotes. It was subsequently shared among military personnel on other social media sites, including WhatsApp and Facebook. A source quoted in the the Times described the party as a “rave in the dockyard” and went on to defend the event. The former naval officer said: “This really comes down to the nature of the order to not do it. If it was ‘you will not’ then that’s one thing. If it was more of a ‘do you think this is a good idea?’ then that’s another. But he’s been in a cramped submarine, just off patrol and they can’t go home. I know where most sympathy is going to lie.” A Royal Navy spokesman said: “An investigation is under way. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”