Messages
46,859
Reaction score
5
The Russian nuclear submarine Kursk was engaging in training maneuvers in the Barents Sea in 2000 when an explosion ripped through its torpedo room. Two minutes later, another blast shook the vessel and water began to flood the sub, causing it to sink 354 feet below the surface. August 12 marks the 10th anniversary of the disaster, which took the lives of all 118 sailors on board.

The 505-foot, 17,000-ton Oscar-II class submarine was carrying torpedoes, 22 cruise missiles and twin nuclear reactors when the mysterious explosions occurred. At first the Russian Northern fleet refused any rescue assistance from U.S. and NATO navies, The New York Times reported, but when its mini-submarine failed to operate correctly, the Kremlin asked Great Britain and Norway for help.

Stormy seas and strong underwater currents made rescue efforts quite difficult, The BarentsObserver reported; however, the sound of desperate crew members tapping on the Kursk's hull spurred the teams to continue. A week later, all hope of recovering survivors was lost when British and Norwegian deep-sea divers found the rear escape hatches flooded.

Once divers were finally able to enter the sub, they discovered Lt. Capt. Dimitri Kolesnikov, the 27-year-old commander of the turbine room, and 22 other bodies. Inside the captain's pocket was a message that explained how nearly two dozen crewmen had survived the sinking -- for at least two days, The Moscow Times reported.

"All personnel from compartments six, seven and eight moved to the ninth," he wrote. "There are 23 of us here. We have made this decision as a result of the accident. None of us can get out."

The captain's widow, Olga Kolesnikova, later said her husband had a premonition of death before leaving on the Kursk's last voyage. He reportedly left his dog tags at home, along with a crucifix and a poem as a remembrance.

In October 2001, the Kursk was brought to the surface and taken to dry dock. The 15-hour recovery operation allowed the Russian military to examine the vessel, and retrieve the trapped crew. Investigators later determined that the disaster was caused by one of the submarine's torpedoes exploding, The BBC reported.

Today, the legacy of the Kursk disaster is one of diplomacy and improved communication. The Russian Northern fleet now maintains good relations with the Norwegian military, and the two organizations hold bi-annual joint exercises to practice rescue operations in the Barents Sea.

Memorial services for the lost submariners will be held on Aug. 12 in St. Petersburg, followed by a military honors ritual and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kursk crew memorial at the Serafimovskoye Cemetery.

Before:

kursk.jpg


After:

kursk-1-wp.jpg
 
Messages
46,859
Reaction score
5
This is something that the Russian military initially tried to blame the US for, alledgeing that the Kursk had collided with US submarines who were secretly monitoring the Russian operations.
 
Top Bottom