| Information About K-141 and the Accident | 
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| Information About K-141 and the Accident |
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Virtual Condolences |
The Birth of a Lady
In 1992, The Rubin Central Design Bureau (Principal designer I.L Baranov) began work on what
was to be the pride of the Russian Navy. At the Sevmashpredpriyatiye (Severodvinsk) shipyard, she was built over a
period of 2 years, then in 1994 was launched for the first time. In May of 1995, the Russian
Navy gave birth to one of its most prized pieces of Naval equipment. Her name was K-141 Kursk.
She was a project 949A or Oscar II class (NATO Code name) Nuclear submarine. One of the most
destructive and formidable pieces of miltary machinery on earth. She was assigned to the 7th SSGN
Division of 1-st Submarine Flotilla of the Northern Fleet - Home base: Vidiayevo settlement in Ura-guba bay.
Kursk was a main battlegroup attack sub. That is, she was built solely with the intention of
destroying large US aircraft carriers from long distance, and delivering massive missile strikes
by her huge armament, from a submersible position.
Armament
Besides her asstonishing size and power, the Kursk boasted an awesome array of weaponary.
Her armament included 24 cruise missiles P-700 ("Granit") which could be fitted with conventional
or nuclear warheads. 4 x 650mm and 2 x 533mm torpedo tubes with 28 torpedoes or ASW rockets launched from these.
"Molniya-M" communication station, "Medveditsa-949M" Navigation system, "Tobol" Radar station,
"Skat-3" Sonar station, "Antey" combat command system. One can now appreciate why the Kursk cost
the Russian Military 226 000 000 Rubles.
USA Code Name
SS-N-19
Nato Code Name
Shipwreck
Design Bureau
Chelomey
Russian Designation
P-700 Granit
Range
450 Km
Propulsion
Liquid Turbojet
Guidance
Active Radar+ Data Link
Speed
Supersonic - Mach 1.7
In-service:
Yes - Oscar Class Submarines - Kirov Missile Cruisers
Notes:
Radar guided ship launched anti ship (Large)
USA Code Name
SS-N-16A - Torpedo Warhead
SS-N-16B - Nuclear Depth Charge
Nato Code Name
Stallion
Russian Designation
RU-100 Veder ( Torpedo Warhead - Type 40)
RU-100 Vodopod ( Nuclear Depth Charge - 200kT)
Design Bureau
Novator
Range
100 Km
Propulsion
Solid Rocket
Speed
N/A
In-service:
Yes
Notes:
Sub launched anti Sub Torpedo- requires a large 650mm launch
tube
USA Code Name
SS-N-15
Nato Code Name
Starfish
Russian Designation
Tsakra
Range
45 Km
Design Bureau
Novator
Propulsion
Solid Rocket
Speed
Subsonic
In-service:
Yes
Notes:
Sub Launched Anti Sub like USA SUBROC - Nuclear Warhead
The Death of a Lady
As most of, if not all, the world already knows K-141 Kursk sank to the bottom of the Barents
Sea in Russia's far north on the 12th of August 2000. It was one of the most contreversial
and shocking news pieces of 2000 and broke headlines on newspapers worldwide.
K-141 left her base at 10:00 hours on the 10th of August for torpedo training exercises in the Barents Sea under
a command of the captain 1 rank Gennadiy P. Liachin with 118 men aboard (111 crew's members, 5 officers of 7-th SSGN Division headquarters and 2 designers).
At 11:29:34 (Moscow time), Norwegian seismologists detected the first of two massive explosions. Also, two American submarines (one of them -- USS MEMPHIS),
which were shadowing the exercises, registered two underwater explosions at 11:38. A Russian submarine and the heavy cruise missile cruiser PETR VELIKIY detected
these explosions too. Minister of Defence of Russian Federation said, that the Russian submarine received also the sound of a third explosion at 11:44. The American
submarine detected the noise during the interval between two explosions, which they recognised it as ballast tanks blowing or increasing of propeller speed. The first
was detected at 69o38'N 37o19'E and registered 1.5 on the Richter Scale. (The explosions are estimated to be the equivalent of 1-2 tons of TNT).
The second, registered 3.5 on the scale at 11:35:48. Similar data to this was recorded in Canada and Alaska.
From this point onwards, K-141 was doomed. She lay in the muddy/sand bottom of the Barents Sea at a depth of 108 m with heel 25
degrees on port side and down 5-7 degrees by the bow.
Almost immediately after the tradedy, ten leading countries of the world offered their support to the Russian Navy in the rescue attempt. For some reason
Russia refused the help. Most probably because of the importance of national pride behind the nation.
Althought the direct cause of the accident is still a mistery, there are many different myths that surround it as to what happened.
These are;
The Rescue Attempt
Almost immediately after the accident, ideas were being put in place to mount a rescue attempt
with the mere hope that there may be some survivors. However, it was not until two days after the initial
accident, that any ideas were put into action.
Shortly after the accident, Norwegian divers claimed to have heard tapping sounds comming from
the inside of the vessel. This was believed to be survivors attempting to communicate with rescuers.
This claim was later dismissed by The United States Navy who said that they had not detected any tapping
at all from the vessel. This is now believed to have been an attempt by the Russian Government to convince
the rest of the world that there were survivors and there was a possibilty of finding them. Really though,
the truth is believed to be that the Russian Government knew exactly the extent of the damage involved and
that there would not have been any survivors. Another idea that can be brought to light, is whether
the Russians actually did want to rescue any survivors...if there were any. This also supports why
it took so long for a rescue attempt to be put into action. Any of these could severely tarnish the Russian
Government's pride.
Foreign Condolences
The following passage was written by Raymond (Rusty) W. Trent, Jr. MM2 (SS) of U.S.S. Thomas A. Edison SSBN 610 (G) as
a form of condolence from the United States Navy.
TO THE VALIANT WARRIORS OF THE KURSK
From the United States Navy Submarine Force and submariners around the world.
Toe-to-toe, eye-to-eye we have faced each other under the silent seas. Unseen, unnoticed and unknown by most of our countrymen
whom we were there to protect and defend. Once enemies, now only wary observers and today only brothers.
Only we, as few others can even begin to comprehend, know the full measure and extent of your sacrifice to your country
as you went about your job. We know the isolation and loneliness you endured so that others might enjoy their families
in peace. We know the years of children's lives lost and lover's arms unfilled. We know the unforgiving hostility of the
environment in which you lived, equaled only by those who go into space, not for days or weeks but months on end. We, know
the knowledge you carried with you every moment tucked neatly in a box in the corner of your mind, that you walked in the
belly of a beast. A capricious beast who merely tolerated your presence. One that, at any moment, might decide to allow
the most insignificant part of itself malfunction and devour you, as it has done. We, understand the unspoken fears and
thoughts you carried with you of just such an eventuality. We, know the close camaraderie and bonding with your fellow
shipmates, each there for the other, each dependent on the other to be the very best they could be, as you faced the
dark, cold, silent crushing depths together. Few men ever have the privilege of knowing the spirit of that bonding.
From that brotherhood shared, through the long days of not knowing, we were with you perhaps not in body but certainly
in mind and spirit. So it is on this day with thankfulness in the final knowledge, or at least the prayer, that all of
you mercifully never even had the time to even realize your fate much less experience it, we accept the finality of your
passing. There but for the grace of God walk any of us, so we stand in unison and salute you our fallen brothers.
Now our thoughts and feelings turn to those who loved you and remain in this world without you. Our prayers ask to give
them strength and solace for the pain and grief they are enduring. We hope the lessons to be learned from your death and
ultimate sacrifice will be seized upon, by all nations and especially by yours, and be taken to heart by those who can
correct the causes and can prevent it from happening again so that your deaths will not be in vain and may someday keep
other brothers from the same fate.
Nevertheless, with honor and respect we shall keep your memory alive, as we do for our own that are Forever On Patrol.
Shortly before 09:00 hours (08:51 exactly) the Kursk transmitted her last radio transmission. She requested permission from base
headqueaters for an educational torpedo (or test fire). The reply she recieved was "dobra". (Good/OK). Radio results of this launch were expected at 11:00 hours.