[Chad Fairbanks]

They were lucky they were able to surface... had she not been able to, that would have been where we came in - four-point moor with the anchors and spuds, and send down the SRC...

[7mmMag@LeftCoast]

You are absolutely correct that they were lucky to surface. Moments after they broke water, the HP air piping in the forward compartment (where the Batt fire was) started to rupture.

Had it happened submerged they may not have had the air to blow the MBT's with. Though they may have been able to pump variable ballast and drove to the surface, for as long as the aft battery held out. Then they could have evacuated as many as possible, while the ship remained broached.

Everyone else? Probably would have joined their shipmates from Thresher and Scorpion. Yes, damned lucky is right.

If the boat went down, there would have been no chance of an SRC or DSVR rescue, as the water was deep enough that it would have imploded the hull before she hit bottom.