What lesson should Russia learn from nuclear submarine disasters

K-278 Komsomolets is far from the most pleasant page in Soviet history. Today she again made herself talk.

USSR sunset tragedy

The passion around the Russian-Norwegian expedition to the dead nuclear submarine (NPS) K-278 Komsomolets calmed down a bit, and it was time to systematize what we learned. However, for a start we digress a bit to understand how it all started. For some reason, the recent tragedy with the AS-31 Losharik nuclear submarine, as well as the death of the Kursk, has been attributed to nepotism, corruption, or even all the "troubles of capitalism" at once. However, in fairness, Soviet submarines were far from ideal before. You can recall the unflattering nickname "roaring cows", and also give statistics according to which the USSR lost the most nuclear submarines. Only four: K-8, K-27, K-219 and K-278 Komsomolets. Modern Russia and the United States have lost two nuclear submarines in their history.

The Komsomolets submarine sank on April 7, 1989 in the Norwegian Sea. Due to a fire in two adjacent compartments, the destruction of the system of tanks of the main ballast occurred, through which flooding of the boat with seawater began. As a result, the submarine itself and 42 crew members died, while only 27 managed to survive. Many people drowned in ice-cold water, and part of the crew did not manage to get out of the rescue pop-up chamber (VSC) when, after it emerged from the capsule, the hatch tore off the pressure difference and sea water began to flow there.

It’s too early to put an end to the tragic story, however it is more and more difficult to find the culprits every year: in fact, there are several different points of view and the causes of the incident. Including submarine design flaws.

Unexpected discovery

Experts have repeatedly examined in detail the sunken submarine, despite the fact that it rests at a depth of almost 1700 meters. Earlier, the results made it clear: no threat to the environment - neither the reactor, nor the torpedoes on board with nuclear warheads, are carried. The more surprising was the discovery made as part of the Norwegian-Russian expedition of the ship GO Sars.


In the course of the work, the Aegir 6000 research submarine took detailed pictures of the submarine: as it turned out, the hull of the boat has been badly damaged over the years since the disaster. However, it became even more unusual that the level of radiation near the dead submarine turned out to be 100 thousand times higher than the permissible value. Conclusions were made based on the analysis of water samples obtained from the ventilation opening of an atomic submarine.


- said the head of the expedition Hilda Heldal.

Then the scientists hastened to reassure the public, saying that the situation poses no threat to the lives and health of people, as well as to fishing in the region.


However, more alarming information soon began to come. According to the Norwegian Institute for Marine Research, the maximum level of radiation in the area of ​​the ventilation pipe of the reactor compartment exceeds the norm, not even 100, but 800 thousand times. However, fences held at a height of several meters above the pipe no longer showed a significant excess of the normal level of radiation.


On July XNUMX, The Barents Observer reported that nuclear torpedoes could pose a threat.


- write the journalists of the Norwegian media.

Moreover, according to their data, plutonium-239 can corrode in a chemical process with a K-278 titanium case. Is this the root of the problem?

Expert Opinions

The publication Lenta.ru in its recent material brought interesting evidence from various experts.


- said about the recent findings of scientists, the former commander of the Northern Fleet, Admiral Vyacheslav Popov, who once led the rescue of the Kursk.

And who, for unknown reasons, did not say that some of the submariners then survived the explosion (or a series of explosions). In turn, scientists reacted to the situation more wary, although they avoided harsh language. So, the director of the FSBI Research and Production Association "Typhoon" Vladimir Bulgakov said that you need to wait for the radionuclide analysis, although it is already clear that you should not eat fish from a dangerous area.

Even more frankly, the leading researcher of the International Laboratory for the Study of Climate, Land Use and Biodiversity of Tyumen State University Alexander Khaustov spoke out.


- says the researcher.

Thus, it is too early to put an end to this story: obviously, new research will help to reveal the secret of pollution. At the same time, one should not expect the submarine to rise to the surface, although this issue was worked out in the 90s.


- said the head of the public organization Bellona Foundation ecologist Frederic Hauge.

Right Submarines

What conclusions can be drawn from the tragedy for modern Russia and for the naval forces in general? In this regard, quite abruptly, but truthfully, recently Sergey Kubynin, a submarine officer of the USSR Navy, captain of the first rank, spoke out.


He said in a comment Lenta.ru.


Indeed, if we look at the tragedies with K-278 Komsomolets and Losharik, we will see many similarities. Firstly, a lot of dark spots and lengthy formulations of the Navy leadership. Secondly (and this is perhaps more important) - both submarines were built in a single copy, and this almost automatically guarantees serious problems. Starting from "childhood diseases", which are extremely difficult in such conditions to eliminate, and ending with the risk of accidents and crew death.

In general, the advanced fleet is based on reasonable unification, and if each ship is built on a separate project, then accidents and catastrophes will not take long. We are already silent about additional spending and a drop in combat effectiveness.