Posted on 06/24/2018 7:41:31 AM PDT by Eddie01
Kursk had suffered two massive explosions and sank in 354 feet of water at a twenty-degree vertical angle. An explosion had ripped through the front of the hull, tearing a terrible gash along the upper bow. Still, at least twenty-three of the 118 crew had survived the sinking, as a note penned by one of the ships senior officers, Lt. Capt. Dmitri Kolesnikov, indicated. The note was dated exactly two hours after the initial explosion. Rescue efforts by Russianand later British and Norwegianteams failed to rescue the survivors.
A Russian inquiry into the accident concluded that one of the Kursks Type 65-76A torpedoes had exploded. A faulty weld in a torpedo or damage to a torpedo during movement had caused it to leak hydrogen peroxide. Like many torpedoes, the Type 65 used hydrogen peroxide as an underwater fuel. Unfortunately, hydrogen peroxide becomes explosive when it comes into contact with a catalyst, such as organic compounds or fire. A similar accident is thought to have sank HMS Sidon, a Royal Navy submarine, in 1955.
Conspiracy theories regarding the sinking of the Kursk are rife on the Russian Internet. Many allege that nearby American attack submarines sank the Kursk with Mark 48 torpedoes. While technically possible (in absence of the evidence of an internal torpedo explosion) there is no remotely plausible motive for such an attack during a period of good U.S.-Russian relations. Why attack the Kursk? Why was only the Kursk sunk, and not the Kuznetsov and Pyotr Velikiy? Why would the Russian government cover up the attack?
In the end, the sinking of the Kursk appears to have been caused by a simple, freak accident of chemistry. The tragedy only reinforces how dangerous life aboard a submarine really is, and how important safety is in the underwater realm. Finally, the rush to conspiracy is a warning that, had this incident occurred during a genuine crisis, such an accident could cause a dangerous escalation that could lead to war.
Exactly! An “explosion” of concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide is NOT “Freak Accident of Chemistry”, but the normal result of improper handling.
Your mention of the Lance missile reminded me that one of the major model kit companies has produced two 1/35 scale models of the Lance: one is on a ground launched trailer and the other is mounted on the M-548/M-113 chassis that was the Lance prime mover and launcher. I will provide the name of the company via freepmail if you request it.
I think we experimented wHydrogen Peroxide and abandoned it as too unstable.
It’s used at about 20% concentration in some pool chemicals. Even at that strength it’s a powerful oxidizer and even a drop will cause a mild chemical burn that definitely stings. This is from my own direct, personal experience.
Dont have to, they make machines that do it safely.
Always wondered if they could flood a forward or aft compartment with sufficient air and have the sub go vertical underwater, bringing one of the ends closer to the surface. In a couple hundred feet of water, would get survivors closer to the surface?
hydrogen peroxide also when not explosive (but still catalyzing) gives off pure oxygen and hydrogen which at high enough densities can cause massive flash fires (igniting/damaging other things)
Years ago, at a place I worked, we had a computer test server named ‘Kursk’. Some other employee wondered thought it odd that it had been named after a disaster.
The truth was : it had been named by a history buff friend of mine there, after a major land battle in WW2 (a russian victory). Numerous Other servers were named after other major historic battles (but their names were more obscure and not ones who’s name was recently in the news).
Put in perspective, the water wasnt as deep as the submarine was long. If you stood it on end, about 50 feet would have been sticking out of the water. But those poor sailors might as well have been on the far side of the moon.
Jesus, that Nike missile.
I used to launch Lance missiles off the island of Crete in the summer. It was the NAAMFI installation, and it was also used for Hawk and Nike missiles used by our allies. Great shows. Often, the Nike-Hercules would rise on it’s boosters, and when they’d cut out, it would start to fall backwards until (hopefully) the main engines cut in. That seemed like forever.
Yeah, the trailer was called “Launcher Zero Length” and was actually the launch fixture unbolted from the M-752 launcher with wheels bolted on. It was used for air-mobile operations which were sorta cool. Every year or so, we’d unbolt the thing and sling it under a Blackhawk or Chinook and lug it hundred miles or so to conduct training missions.
Not impossible at all. In the end political dithering killed the surviving crew. The Russian rescue craft were useless from lack of maintenance. Clinton wanted to help but was poorly advised to stand down. We could have had our people waiting within sight for when the Russian government swallowed their pride. I got this info from an American DSRV driver.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.