August 9, 2000
The Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sank during a naval exercise in the Barents Sea. A series of internal explosions led to the tragedy, resulting in the loss of all 118 crew members aboard.
Barents Sea, Russia | Russian Navy
On August 12, 2000, the Russian nuclear-powered submarine K-141 Kursk sank in the Barents Sea during a naval exercise. The tragedy resulted in the loss of all 118 crew members. This incident is one of the most devastating submarine disasters in Russian naval history.
Kursk, an Oscar-class submarine, was part of the Northern Fleet, and one of the Russian Navy’s most advanced vessels. Commissioned in 1994, it was equipped with advanced features intended for targeting aircraft carriers with supersonic anti-ship missiles.
During a naval training exercise known as “Summer-X”, Kursk was set to fire dummy torpedoes at the cruiser Pyotr Velikiy. The series of events that led to its sinking began with an internal explosion, followed minutes later by a second, much larger explosion. These explosions registered on seismographs across Europe.
The initial explosion was likely caused by a hydrogen peroxide leak from a faulty torpedo, which led to a reaction that detonated its conventional explosives. The subsequent massive explosion destroyed a large section of the submarine’s forward compartments, sinking the Kursk.
Initially, Russian authorities delayed in acknowledging the disaster. This delayed international rescue efforts and sparked criticism of the government’s response. Despite attempts by British and Norwegian teams to rescue possible survivors, it was later confirmed that the entire crew had perished.
Recovery of the submarine began almost a year later, and investigations revealed that the entire forward section, including the torpedo room, was heavily damaged. The Kursk tragedy prompted significant controversy about the state of the Russian Navy and highlighted issues regarding safety protocols, military transparency, and rescue readiness.
The Kursk disaster remains a somber chapter in naval history, underscoring not only the potential dangers of submarine operations but also the critical importance of effective emergency response strategies.
Source: www.bbc.com