|
Soviet and Russian Peacetime Submarine Accidents |
|
Date |
Details |
| July 4, 1961 |
The Hotel-class
nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine K-19 suffers a major
leak in the coolant system of its nuclear reactor. The contamination is so
severe that the crew must be evacuated, and the K-19 towed home.
The damaged reactors must be removed and replaced, taking K-19 out
of service for two years. 8 men die of acute radiation poisoning. |
| September 8,
1967 |
The
November-class attack submarine K-3 is again involved in a serious
accident when she suffers a fire in her hydraulic system. Although able to
return to port under her own power, 39 crewmen are killed. |
| April 11, 1968 |
The Golf-class
diesel-powered ballistic missile submarine K-129 sinks in 16,000
feet of water in the Pacific, about 750 miles northwest of the island of
Oahu, Hawaii, killing all aboard. In 1974, the CIA attempts to raise the
submarine. The effort is known as "Project Jennifer". The CIA is
only partially successful. |
| May 24, 1968 |
The modified
November-class (Project 675) nuclear- powered attack submarine K-27
suffers a major reactor accident while at sea. 9 men die of radiation
exposure. |
| April 8, 1970 |
The
November-class nuclear-powered attack submarine K-8 sinks in rough
seas during a tow-rescue attempt in the Bay of Biscay after a fire. 52
men, including the Captain, are lost. The K-8 had been involved in
a major reactor accident in 1960. |
| February 24,
1972 |
The Hotel
II-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine K-19 catches
fire while on patrol in the North Atlantic. 12 crewmen are trapped in an
after compartment, and cannot be rescued for 24 days. Damage is severe
enough that the submarine needs to be towed to port, a rescue effort that
requires the participation of over 30 soviet ships. A total of 28 crewmen
die in the fire. |
| June 13, 1973 |
The Echo
II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine K-56 suffers an
unknown type of reactor accident. 27 crewmen are killed. |
| September 26,
1976 |
The Echo
II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine K-47 suffers a
fire while returning from a routine patrol. 8 crewmen die of injuries. |
| August 19, 1978 |
Another Echo
II-class submarine suffers a propulsion failure west of Scotland and must
be towed home. |
| August 21, 1980 |
An Echo II-class
nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine surfaces in the Philippine Sea
after a fire and propulsion failure. It also must be towed back to port.
Reports indicate as many as 9 crewmen died. |
| October 27, 1981 |
A Wiskey-class
diesel-powered attack submarine runs aground in Swedish territorial
waters, near a Swedish naval base, apparently while on a
intelligence-gathering mission. |
| August 8, 1982 |
While on patrol
in the Barents Sea, the Alfa-class nuclear-powered attack submarine K-123
suffers a coolant leak in its liquid-metal cooled reactor. Damage is so
severe that the reactor must be removed and replaced. The K-123 is
lost to service for over 8 years. |
| June 24, 1983 |
The
Charlie-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine K-429 sinks
in the North Pacific. Most or all of the crew are killed. The submarine is
salvaged by the Soviet Navy in August, one of the few cases of a nuclear
powered submarine being lost and later being salvaged. |
| November 2, 1983 |
A disabled
Victor III-class nuclear-powered attack submarine surfaces in the Atlantic
between Bermuda and South Carolina. Soviet ships tow it to Cuba for
repairs. |
| September 20,
1984 |
A Golf II-class
diesel-powered ballistic missile submarine surfaces in the Sea of Japan
after catching fire. The submarine returns to port under her own power. |
| October 6, 1986 |
The Yankee-I
class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine K-219 sinks in
the Atlantic, 680 miles northeast of Bermuda, after suffering an explosion
and fire. The seal in a missile hatch cover failed, allowing sea water to
leak into the missile tube. The sea water reacted with fuel residue from
the liquid-fuled missile, causing an explosion and fire. Three crew
members are killed outright. A fourth crewmember, an enlisted seaman, dies
after successfully securing the nuclear reactor by hand, when he is
trapped in the engine compartment. The submarine is intentially scuttled
by the captain when attempts to tow it fail. The seaman is postumously
awarded the Red Star for his bravery. |
| April 7, 1989 |
While on its
first patrol, the Mike-class nuclear-powered attack submarine K-278 (Komsomolets)
catches fire and sinks in the Barents Sea north of Norway. There are
conflicting reports about the number of survivors. Some reports claim only
one survivor. Other reports indicate as many as 25 crew members were
rescued. |
| June 25, 1989 |
While returning
from patrol, the Echo II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine K-192
(ex-K-131) suffered a reactor accident. Radiation contamination is
so severe that the K-192 is removed from service. She remains
unusable and unrepairable to this day. |
| 27 September,
1991 |
A new
construction Typhoon-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
reportedly suffers a missile mis-fire during a missile test-firing. As a
consequence of this damage, all Typhoon-class subs are modified to carry a
new, more modern ballistic missile. |
| 26 January, 1998 |
During routine
tests aboard a moored nuclear-powered submarine, a cooling system pipe
breaks, releasing ammonia and nitrogen gas into the compartment. A total
of 5 crew members are injured, and one, a Captain of the 3rd Rank,
succumbes to his injuries while in the hospital on 28 January. This
submarine is reportedly the Oscar-II nuclear-powered guided missile
submarine Tomsk. |
| |
|
