  We study the formation of monopoles and strings in a model where SU(3) is
spontaneously broken to U(2)=[SU(2)\times U(1)]/\ZZ_2, and then to U(1). The
first symmetry breaking generates monopoles with both SU(2) and U(1) charges
since the vacuum manifold is \CC P^2. To study the formation of these
monopoles, we explicitly describe an algorithm to detect topologically
non-trivial mappings on \CC P^2. The second symmetry breaking creates \ZZ_2
strings linking either monopole-monopole pairs or monopole-antimonopole pairs.
When the strings pull the monopoles together they may create stable monopoles
of charge 2 or else annihilate. We determine the length distribution of strings
and the fraction of monopoles that will survive after the second symmetry
breaking. Possible implications for topological defects produced from the
spontaneous breaking of even larger symmetry groups, as in Grand Unified
models, are discussed.
