The chemical error that turned a submarine's ninth compartment into a tomb
In short: When the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea, 23 sailors survived the initial explosions. They waited in the ninth compartment for hours, but a desperate attempt to replenish oxygen ended in a final, fatal flash fire.
On 12 August 2000, the Oscar II-class submarine Kursk was participating in the 'Summer-X' naval exercises in the Barents Sea. The disaster began when a faulty weld in a Type 65 'Kit' torpedo casing leaked high-test peroxide (HTP), triggering a catalytic explosion. This event blew off the torpedo tube doors and destroyed the bulkhead between the first and second compartments. Just over two minutes later, a second, much larger explosion—equivalent to 2–3 tons of TNT—tore a hole in the hull and collapsed multiple decks, killing most of the 118 personnel instantly.
While the nuclear reactors shut down without a meltdown, a small group of 23 sailors managed to take refuge in the ninth compartment. They survived for more than six hours as the vessel rested on the seabed at a depth of 108 metres. In a final, tragic attempt to sustain life, the crew tried to replace a potassium superoxide chemical oxygen cartridge. However, the cartridge fell into oily seawater and exploded upon contact, triggering a flash fire that consumed the remaining oxygen and asphyxiated the survivors.
The subsequent rescue operation was marred by delays and mismanagement. The Russian Navy did not officially acknowledge the accident for over six hours and initially refused assistance from the UK and Norway. Officials even claimed the crew was alive and that the sub had only 'minor technical difficulties' days after the sinking. It was not until 3 October 2001, fourteen months later, that the Dutch company Mammoet successfully raised the hull. The salvage operation recovered the remains of 115 sailors, but the investigation revealed a pattern of 'negligence, incompetence, and mismanagement' within the fleet.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Kursk submarine disaster
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