Twenty die on Russian submarine

[belfastuniguy 18]

Twenty die on Russian submarine

The sinking of the Kursk was Russia's worst submarine disaster

At least 20 people have died in an incident involving the failure of a fire extinguishing system on a Russian nuclear submarine, local media report.

Russian Pacific Fleet spokesman Igor Dygalo said both sailors and shipyard workers died in the incident, which occurred during sea trials.

He said the submarine itself had not been damaged and there had been no radiation leaks.

Military prosecutors are investigating the incident.

Injured evacuated

The submarine, whose name and class have not been revealed, has been ordered to suspend sea trials and return to port in the far eastern Primorye territory, Capt Dygalo said.

"I declare with full responsibility that the reactor compartment on the nuclear-powered submarine is working normally and the radiation background is normal," he said, quoted by Itar-Tass news agency.

There were 208 people on board at the time, 81 of whom were servicemen.

Twenty-one injured people have been evacuated from the submarine, sources at the fleet said.

Reports say the incident occurred in the nose of the vessel. The nuclear reactor, which is in the stern, was not affected.

A shipyard source told the RIA Novosti news agency the vessel was the K-152 Nerpa, an Akula-class submarine, but this cannot be independently confirmed.

RIA said the trials were in the Japanese Sea and that the Nerpa was due to be leased to the Indian navy.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is being kept fully informed about the incident, his press service said.

Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Kolmakov and Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Vysotsky are flying to the scene of the incident.

Russia's worst submarine disaster happened in August 2000, when the nuclear-powered Kursk sank in the Barents Sea. All 118 people on board died. quote>

[Explodingsims 3]

Well, this is bad news.

At least some people where able to escape.

[coolotter88 2]

the Russian navy is falling apart, If they ever went to war, their ships would sink themselves.

[Geronimo 4]

I agree SOME parts of the Russian Navy might be neglected, but I wouldnt underestimate its power by such accidents like this one. It could depend as much on local authority and priorities, and is not necessary a reflection of the Navy in general.

But its obvious some of their submarines are ticking time-bombs...

[hamsterTK 93]

So what happened was that the fire extinguishing system was the waterless (CO2?) variety, and the gas suffocated everyone? I know they use those in some office buildings where servers and computer equipment is kept, and I've always wondered what would happen if you were in the room when they went off.

What a crappy way to go. Killed by a sprinkler system.

[Yoman3 5]

Hmm, an Akula II, the most modern attack submarine in the Russian Navy, now that i surprising. Russian navy isn't in the greatest condition, though they can still preform as demonstrated by the Georgian War, though the most modern cruiser in the navy was hit by a 1950s antiship missile fired by a Georgian patrol craft apparently.