Urgent consultations in Washington, Moscow on reported US-Russian submarines in firefight

Jul 2, 2019 @ 22:24 Diane Shalem First reports reaching DEBKAfile’s military sources say that a US submarine intercepted a Russian nuclear sub in American waters opposite Alaska. The Russian sub escorting the nuclear submarine responded with a Balkan 2000 torpedo and scuttled the US vessel. Urgent consultations in both the White House and the Kremlin were taking place on Tuesday night. US Vice President Mike Pence called off an appearance in New Hampshire after being recalled to Washington for a conference called by President Donald Trump without explanation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin cancelled an engagement and headed for the Kremlin to confer with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and military chiefs, after learning that 14 submariners died in a fire that broke out on a nuclear-powered “experimental submarine in Russian waters.” This account carried in Russian media varies in most respects from the first reports reaching this site and may refer to a separate incident. They report between 14 and 17 members of an AS-12 nuclear powered submarine died of poisonous fumes caused by a fire aboard the vessel. The submarine was described as experimental and unarmed but often used in spy missions. It is unclear how many of the 25 crew survived. Local media suggest four or five are receiving treatment in Severomorsk’s military hospital for poisoning and concussion injuries. Another news account said the majority of the officers died in or on their way to hospital. These reports do not cite the cause of the fire.

This story uses a conspiracy writer's trick which goes like this:

1. Take two unusual events that happen close together, in this case the loss of the Losharik and Pence canceling events, then claim they are related for super secret Tom Clancy stuff. Alternatively, claim the Tom Clancy stuff is connected to real world events that would not be related to each other outside of the conspiracy.

2. Don't proofread and clean up anything that shows the "real story" is utter nonsense. The "Balkan 2000 torpedo" exists only in this article and the Russians would not send a unarmed research submarine operating out of Severomorsk anywhere near Alaska.

3. Do not try to explain why the "real story" is happening. Just what is so important in Alaskan waters the Russians would risk war over it? How could they get two or three submarines, one of which a noisy Delta III converted to a mother ship, in Alaskan waters without the US Navy detecting them by the IUSS (former SOSUS) network? Why would the Russians risk shooting at a US submarine, when there would have to be several USN ships and submarines close by? These are fair questions, don't expect Debka to answer them.

3. When after enough time passes that shows the official story is not a lie, stop writing about it. That will happen when it is confirmed that the Losharik is sunk off the Russian and not Alaskan coast, no US SSN in the Pacific Fleet was lost or damaged, and there are no unexplained deaths of U.S. submariners.

4. Go onto the next story.

I was once attacked by a Crazy Ivan with a Balkan 2000 torpedo. Fortunately, I was in my 18’ foot Tracker Bass Boat with a very shallow draft and it went right under me and blew up the marina and bait shop. Lucky day for me. I did lose my Yeti cooler in the confuson. USAA took care of the claim.

You could have had the largest fish trophy...such a missed opportunity

That sounds like a bunch of BS as the nuclear sub with the fire is now in port in Mermansk so it was not near Alaska.

If a Russian sub took out one of ours in our waters we would be on a war footing right now.

although it is interesting that all of our boomers in Washington are out to sea right now.

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