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A Russian navy boat was attacked and sunk by a walrus in the Arctic
A Russian navy boat was attacked and sunk by a walrus in the Arctic
Ryan Pickrell
,
Business Insider•September 23, 2019
Walruses res on an ice floe off Wrangel Island, part of the Wrangel Island State Nature Reserve in the Arctic Ocean.
Yuri Smityuk\TASS via Getty Images
The Altai, a tugboat of the Russian navy's Northern Fleet, sailed to the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the Arctic carrying researchers from the Russian Geographical Society.
"The polar latitudes are fraught with many dangers," the research group posted in a recent press update.
One of those dangers is apparently walruses, a monstrously large animal that can weigh up to a few thousand pounds and can be quite ferocious when threatened.
To get ashore from the Altai, the researchers and other expedition participants had to rely on smaller landing craft.
The Altai sitting offshore as a landing craft moves in
Russian Ministry of Defense
During one landing, the "group of researchers had to flee from a female walrus, which, while protecting its cubs, attacked an expedition boat," the Northern Fleet said.
The navy added that "serious troubles were avoided thanks to the clear and well-coordinated actions of the Northern Fleet servicemembers, who were able to take the boat away from the animals without harming them."
The Barents Observer reports that a drone was being operated in close proximity to the walruses. It is unclear if this is what triggered the aggression.
Walrus
Russian Ministry of Defense
While the Russian military makes no mention of any equipment losses, the Geographical Society had a bit more to say on what happened.
"Walruses attacked the participating boat," the research group explained. "The boat sank, but the tragedy was avoided thanks to the clear actions of the squad leader. All the landing participants safely reached the shore."
This wasn't the Russian navy's first run-in with walruses.
This past May, photos believed to be from 2006 surfaced online of a large walrus napping on top of a Russian submarine.
A Russian navy boat was attacked and sunk by a walrus in the Arctic
Ryan Pickrell
,
Business Insider•September 23, 2019
Walruses res on an ice floe off Wrangel Island, part of the Wrangel Island State Nature Reserve in the Arctic Ocean.
Yuri Smityuk\TASS via Getty Images
- Scientists aboard a Russian navy boat had a rough run-in with a walrus in the Arctic.
- The Russian Geographical Society said the small boat sank, but its passengers were able to get to shore.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The Altai, a tugboat of the Russian navy's Northern Fleet, sailed to the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the Arctic carrying researchers from the Russian Geographical Society.
"The polar latitudes are fraught with many dangers," the research group posted in a recent press update.
One of those dangers is apparently walruses, a monstrously large animal that can weigh up to a few thousand pounds and can be quite ferocious when threatened.
To get ashore from the Altai, the researchers and other expedition participants had to rely on smaller landing craft.
The Altai sitting offshore as a landing craft moves in
Russian Ministry of Defense
During one landing, the "group of researchers had to flee from a female walrus, which, while protecting its cubs, attacked an expedition boat," the Northern Fleet said.
The navy added that "serious troubles were avoided thanks to the clear and well-coordinated actions of the Northern Fleet servicemembers, who were able to take the boat away from the animals without harming them."
The Barents Observer reports that a drone was being operated in close proximity to the walruses. It is unclear if this is what triggered the aggression.
Walrus
Russian Ministry of Defense
While the Russian military makes no mention of any equipment losses, the Geographical Society had a bit more to say on what happened.
"Walruses attacked the participating boat," the research group explained. "The boat sank, but the tragedy was avoided thanks to the clear actions of the squad leader. All the landing participants safely reached the shore."
This wasn't the Russian navy's first run-in with walruses.
This past May, photos believed to be from 2006 surfaced online of a large walrus napping on top of a Russian submarine.
Russian subs honing stealth skills in major North Atlantic drill, says Norwegian intel
The aim of the massive operation is to get as far out to the North Atlantic as possible without being discovered by NATO, the intelligence service informs to NRK. Such maneuvers haven’t been seen from the Northern Fleet since the days of the Cold War.
The operation started early last week, before Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Commander of the Northern Fleet, Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev visited Kirkenes in northern Norway last Friday.
Lavrov had bilateral talks with his Norwegian counterpart Ine Eriksen Søreide and the two said at the following press conference that security situation in northern Europe was one talking point.
Sergey Lavrov and Ine Eriksen Søreide at the joint press conference in Kirkenes last Friday. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
On Saturday, the Barents Observer reported about two of the Sierra-class submarines of the Northern Fleet sailing towards the Norwegian Sea for deep-sea dive tests and weapon tests. The two submarines are the «Pskov» and «Nizhny Novgorod», both built with a titanium-hull.
Eight of the ten submarines now at sea are nuclear-powered, the intelligence service says to NRK.
The intelligence service claim to have «a decent control» over where the submarines are in the sea.
Bjørnøya (Bear Island) is halfway between mainland Norway and Svalbard. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Normally, the ballistic missile submarines are patrolling the eastern Barents Sea or under the ice-cap in the Arctic.
It is known that the Delta-IV class sub «Karelia» on October 17th launched a ballistic missile from the Barents Sea as part of the annual large-scale strategic missile drill, as reported by the Barents Observer.
Russian Delta-IV submarine in the Barents Sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
NRK reports that the operation is supposed to last for 60 days. If so, the submarines will be back in port before New Years celebrations and the Russian Orthodox Christmas.
The Norwegian intelligence service informs to NRK that Russia with the operation is aimed at showing the United States that the country is able to threaten the east coast by protecting the bastion in such a way that the ballistic missile submarines can launch nukes targeted at the USA.
Russia wants to test NATO’s ability to discover and handle such operation, the intelligence service tells NRK.
Commander of the Russian Northern Fleet Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev (left) and Norway’s Chief of Defense Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen in Kirkenes on October 25th. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Russian subs honing stealth skills in major North Atlantic drill, says Norwegian intel
The aim of the massive operation is to get as far out to the North Atlantic as possible without being discovered by NATO, the intelligence service informs to NRK. Such maneuvers haven’t been seen from the Northern Fleet since the days of the Cold War.
The operation started early last week, before Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Commander of the Northern Fleet, Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev visited Kirkenes in northern Norway last Friday.
Lavrov had bilateral talks with his Norwegian counterpart Ine Eriksen Søreide and the two said at the following press conference that security situation in northern Europe was one talking point.
On Saturday, the Barents Observer reported about two of the Sierra-class submarines of the Northern Fleet sailing towards the Norwegian Sea for deep-sea dive tests and weapon tests. The two submarines are the «Pskov» and «Nizhny Novgorod», both built with a titanium-hull.
Eight of the ten submarines now at sea are nuclear-powered, the intelligence service says to NRK.
The intelligence service claim to have «a decent control» over where the submarines are in the sea.
- Two nuclear submarines are west of the Bear Island, between Svalbard and Finnmark, the northernmost part of mainland Norway.
- Two submarines are south and east of the Bear Island, guarding the entrance to the eastern part of the Barents Sea.
- Two Sierra-class nuclear submarines are training in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea.
Normally, the ballistic missile submarines are patrolling the eastern Barents Sea or under the ice-cap in the Arctic.
It is known that the Delta-IV class sub «Karelia» on October 17th launched a ballistic missile from the Barents Sea as part of the annual large-scale strategic missile drill, as reported by the Barents Observer.
NRK reports that the operation is supposed to last for 60 days. If so, the submarines will be back in port before New Years celebrations and the Russian Orthodox Christmas.
The Norwegian intelligence service informs to NRK that Russia with the operation is aimed at showing the United States that the country is able to threaten the east coast by protecting the bastion in such a way that the ballistic missile submarines can launch nukes targeted at the USA.
Russia wants to test NATO’s ability to discover and handle such operation, the intelligence service tells NRK.
Russian subs honing stealth skills in major North Atlantic drill, says Norwegian intel
New strategic submarine tests torpedoes in northern waters
«Knyaz Vladimir» is Russia’s new Borei-class sub, a nuclear-powered ballistic vessel that can carry up to 16 Bulava missiles.
Over the last weeks, it has been undergoing testing in northern waters and in late October test-fired its first Bulava. The submarine has now also tested its torpedoes.
A successful launch on an underwater target was conducted in the White Sea, the Navy informed on the 8th November. The torpedo did not carry a warhead. The launch came after torpedo test shooting on surface targets.
The testing comes ahead of the official transfer of the submarine into the Northern Fleet.
Commander of the Russian Northern Fleet, Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Moiseev has previously told TASS that “Knyaz Vladimir” will be accepted by the navy after all weapons tests are completed. The transfer is likely to happen in late December.
“Knyaz Vladimir” is the Russian Navy’s fourth Borei-class submarine, but the first of the upgraded version, named Borei-A, which is sailing more silently than its sister ships.
The submarine will sail for the Northern Fleet with homebase in Gadzhiyevo. This will be the second Borei-class sub with the Northern Fleet, which from before has the “Yury Dolgoruky”.
Two others, the “Aleksandr Nevsky” and “Vladimir Monomakh” are sailing for the Pacific Fleet.
The “Knyaz Vladimir” is far from the only Russian submarine that now is engaged in training in the Barents Sea. In the first days of November, the «Nizhny Novgorod» and the «Pskov» were centerpieces in a so-called «underwater duel» that included hide-and-seek and combat maneuvering.
The war games between the two subs included simulated launches with torpedoes, as well as real torpedo shooting without warheads, the Northern Fleet informs.
New strategic submarine tests torpedoes in northern waters
«Knyaz Vladimir» is Russia’s new Borei-class sub, a nuclear-powered ballistic vessel that can carry up to 16 Bulava missiles.
Over the last weeks, it has been undergoing testing in northern waters and in late October test-fired its first Bulava. The submarine has now also tested its torpedoes.
A successful launch on an underwater target was conducted in the White Sea, the Navy informed on the 8th November. The torpedo did not carry a warhead. The launch came after torpedo test shooting on surface targets.
The testing comes ahead of the official transfer of the submarine into the Northern Fleet.
Commander of the Russian Northern Fleet, Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Moiseev has previously told TASS that “Knyaz Vladimir” will be accepted by the navy after all weapons tests are completed. The transfer is likely to happen in late December.
“Knyaz Vladimir” is the Russian Navy’s fourth Borei-class submarine, but the first of the upgraded version, named Borei-A, which is sailing more silently than its sister ships.
The submarine will sail for the Northern Fleet with homebase in Gadzhiyevo. This will be the second Borei-class sub with the Northern Fleet, which from before has the “Yury Dolgoruky”.
Two others, the “Aleksandr Nevsky” and “Vladimir Monomakh” are sailing for the Pacific Fleet.
The “Knyaz Vladimir” is far from the only Russian submarine that now is engaged in training in the Barents Sea. In the first days of November, the «Nizhny Novgorod» and the «Pskov» were centerpieces in a so-called «underwater duel» that included hide-and-seek and combat maneuvering.
The war games between the two subs included simulated launches with torpedoes, as well as real torpedo shooting without warheads, the Northern Fleet informs.
New strategic submarine tests torpedoes in northern waters
'Two missing' as Russia’s only aircraft carrier catches fire
'Two missing' as Russia’s only aircraft carrier catches fire
The IndependentDecember 12, 2019, 9:45 AM GMT
forsvaret/AFP via Getty Images
Russia’s lone aircraft carrier — the ageing Admiral Kuznetsov — caught fire on Thursday morning following an accident sustained while under repair in port near Murmansk.
Footage of the fire showed thick black smoke rising above the decks of the vessel. According to Russian news agencies, ten people have been injured, mostly with burns, with seven of them remaining in a local intensive care unit. Two men remain unaccounted for.
The same wires suggested the fire, which began just before 11 am, is spreading and now covers 600 sq metres of the vessel.
Initial reports said the fire followed welding work in the engine room. Initially limited to a 20 sq m area, flames advanced quickly owing to the extensive diesel stores onboard.
The news continues a torrid recent history for the Soviet-built vessel. Launched in 1990, the last year of the Soviet Union, the ship suffered from increasing military budget shortages, and had only major refit in three decades.
The carrier is prone to breakdowns and needs to be pulled by tugboats wherever it goes. The plumes of smoke that accompany any outing seriously undermine its ability to project Russian power.
It lost two planes to accidents when it was deployed to Syria in 2016.
Thursday’s fire was not the first accident to happen during repair works. Last year, the carrier sustained major damage when a 70-ton floating crane smashed into its hull.
At the time, many believed that meant the decrepit vessel would soon be headed for the scrapheap. Instead, Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu announced a major refit, to be completed by 2020.
That timetable is now under doubt. According to Alexei Rakhmanov, president of the United Shipping Company that owns the Zvezdochka shipyard near Murmansk, emergency workers were continuing ”a battle to save the viability of the ship”.
'Two missing' as Russia’s only aircraft carrier catches fire
The IndependentDecember 12, 2019, 9:45 AM GMT
forsvaret/AFP via Getty Images
Russia’s lone aircraft carrier — the ageing Admiral Kuznetsov — caught fire on Thursday morning following an accident sustained while under repair in port near Murmansk.
Footage of the fire showed thick black smoke rising above the decks of the vessel. According to Russian news agencies, ten people have been injured, mostly with burns, with seven of them remaining in a local intensive care unit. Two men remain unaccounted for.
The same wires suggested the fire, which began just before 11 am, is spreading and now covers 600 sq metres of the vessel.
Initial reports said the fire followed welding work in the engine room. Initially limited to a 20 sq m area, flames advanced quickly owing to the extensive diesel stores onboard.
The news continues a torrid recent history for the Soviet-built vessel. Launched in 1990, the last year of the Soviet Union, the ship suffered from increasing military budget shortages, and had only major refit in three decades.
The carrier is prone to breakdowns and needs to be pulled by tugboats wherever it goes. The plumes of smoke that accompany any outing seriously undermine its ability to project Russian power.
It lost two planes to accidents when it was deployed to Syria in 2016.
Thursday’s fire was not the first accident to happen during repair works. Last year, the carrier sustained major damage when a 70-ton floating crane smashed into its hull.
At the time, many believed that meant the decrepit vessel would soon be headed for the scrapheap. Instead, Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu announced a major refit, to be completed by 2020.
That timetable is now under doubt. According to Alexei Rakhmanov, president of the United Shipping Company that owns the Zvezdochka shipyard near Murmansk, emergency workers were continuing ”a battle to save the viability of the ship”.
Russian heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser to leave repair dock in 2020
Russian heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser to leave repair dock in 2020
The work aboard the ship is proceeding in accordance with the schedule, according to Sevmash CEO Mikhail Budnichenko
SEVERODVINSK /Arkhangelsk Region/, December 20. /TASS/. The Sevmash Shipyard will roll out the Project 11442M heavy nuclear-powered missile-carrying cruiser Admiral Nakhimov from the repair dock in 2020, Sevmash CEO Mikhail Budnichenko told TASS on Friday.
"Work will be fulfilled on the Project 11442M ship in 2020 in order to move it away from the dock," the chief executive said.
The next stage will involve the ship’s further construction at the Shipyard’s quay and its preparations for sea trials, he said.
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"The work aboard the ship is proceeding in accordance with the schedule. After its upgrade, the ship will be outfitted with long-range precision weapons and powerful anti-submarine warfare armament," the chief executive added.
In September, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said that the cruiser was 50% ready and was set to be delivered to the Navy in 2022. After its repairs and upgrade, the ship will get the Fort-M and Pantsyr-M air defense systems and the powerful Paket-NK and Otvet anti-submarine warfare armament, he said.
The heavy nuclear-powered missile-carrying cruiser Admiral Nakhimov was laid down on May 17, 1983. The cruiser was initially named the Kalinin. The warship was put afloat on April 25, 1986 and made operational in Russia’s Northern Fleet on December 30, 1988. The nuclear-powered cruiser was renamed into the Admiral Nakhimov on April 22, 1992.
The Admiral Nakhimov has been in the repair dock of the Sevmash Shipyard since 1999. Actual work on the cruiser’s repair and heavy upgrade began in 2013. After the repair and upgrade are over, the warship will get Kalibr-NK and Oniks cruise missiles and eventually Tsirkon hypersonic weapons.
Russian heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser to leave repair dock in 2020
The work aboard the ship is proceeding in accordance with the schedule, according to Sevmash CEO Mikhail Budnichenko
SEVERODVINSK /Arkhangelsk Region/, December 20. /TASS/. The Sevmash Shipyard will roll out the Project 11442M heavy nuclear-powered missile-carrying cruiser Admiral Nakhimov from the repair dock in 2020, Sevmash CEO Mikhail Budnichenko told TASS on Friday.
"Work will be fulfilled on the Project 11442M ship in 2020 in order to move it away from the dock," the chief executive said.
The next stage will involve the ship’s further construction at the Shipyard’s quay and its preparations for sea trials, he said.
READ ALSO
Russian missile cruiser completes drills with South Africa and China in Atlantic
"The work aboard the ship is proceeding in accordance with the schedule. After its upgrade, the ship will be outfitted with long-range precision weapons and powerful anti-submarine warfare armament," the chief executive added.
In September, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said that the cruiser was 50% ready and was set to be delivered to the Navy in 2022. After its repairs and upgrade, the ship will get the Fort-M and Pantsyr-M air defense systems and the powerful Paket-NK and Otvet anti-submarine warfare armament, he said.
The heavy nuclear-powered missile-carrying cruiser Admiral Nakhimov was laid down on May 17, 1983. The cruiser was initially named the Kalinin. The warship was put afloat on April 25, 1986 and made operational in Russia’s Northern Fleet on December 30, 1988. The nuclear-powered cruiser was renamed into the Admiral Nakhimov on April 22, 1992.
The Admiral Nakhimov has been in the repair dock of the Sevmash Shipyard since 1999. Actual work on the cruiser’s repair and heavy upgrade began in 2013. After the repair and upgrade are over, the warship will get Kalibr-NK and Oniks cruise missiles and eventually Tsirkon hypersonic weapons.
krakek (@krakek1) Tweeted:
A more detailed variant of the table. You can see that without the anomalies (Severodvinsk, Yuri Dolgoruki) Russian SSN/SSBN construction times are essentially within the European norm. krakek on Twitter ( )
krakek (@krakek1) Tweeted:
With the new pr.885M SSN allegedly being planned to be floated on 25th some historic perspectives. As you can see pr.885M are now moving into more of the British pattern in terms of construction times with Kazan and now Novosibirsk. krakek on Twitter ( )
This is absolutely alarming, Paddy. you guys running a first world navy on a third world budget. To think Britannia used to rule the seas not long ago. @BMD
A more detailed variant of the table. You can see that without the anomalies (Severodvinsk, Yuri Dolgoruki) Russian SSN/SSBN construction times are essentially within the European norm. krakek on Twitter ( )
krakek (@krakek1) Tweeted:
With the new pr.885M SSN allegedly being planned to be floated on 25th some historic perspectives. As you can see pr.885M are now moving into more of the British pattern in terms of construction times with Kazan and now Novosibirsk. krakek on Twitter ( )
This is absolutely alarming, Paddy. you guys running a first world navy on a third world budget. To think Britannia used to rule the seas not long ago. @BMD
Dmitry Stefanovich (@KomissarWhipla) Tweeted:
Looks like Husky 5th gen nuclear sub will be SLBM capable, according to briefs dedtributed at Federation Council event on shipbuilding.
Российские подлодки пятого поколения "Хаски" будут иметь баллистические ракеты - ( )
Very interesting. Do read the entire thread
Looks like Husky 5th gen nuclear sub will be SLBM capable, according to briefs dedtributed at Federation Council event on shipbuilding.
Российские подлодки пятого поколения "Хаски" будут иметь баллистические ракеты - ( )
Very interesting. Do read the entire thread
Fishermen witnessed nuclear submarine drama
They were out doing illegal fishing and do not want to reveal their names. But the men who late Monday evening were onboard a small local fishing boat off the coast of the Kola Peninsula told news agency SeverPost that they witnessed what appeared as a state of emergency.
Eye witnesses
It happened around 9.30 pm near the Ura Bay, one of the witnesses says.
«We were heading towards Kildin, and then, about half past nine in the evening, a submarine surfaces. Suddenly and completely surfaces. I have never seen anything like it in my life. On the deck, people were running around and making fuss,» he told SeverPost.
The fishermen hid in nearby bay from where they saw that a navy vessel and two tugs quickly arrived on site. Around 11 pm, the vessels accompanied the submarine away from the area. There was no sign of smoke, they say.
Other locals later reported that they saw bodies being taken out of the submarine and to an approaching ship.
A source in the Russian Navy later told SeverPost that the submarine seen by the local fishermen was most likely the «Podmoskovie», the mother vessel of the special purpose submarine «Losharik» (AS-31). The «Podmoskovie» is a rebuilt Delta-IV class submarine designed to carry the much smaller «Losharik».
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Sources in the Navy on Tuesday told Russian media that the accident had happened in the «Losharik».
Both the «Podmoskovie» and the «Losharik» are normally based in Oleniya Bay, and operated by the Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research, nicknamed GUGI, a branch directly under General Staff of the Armed Forces.
The “Losharik” is believed to be able to bring - or remove - other small installations and devices for military purposes to be placed on the sea floor. Such devices can be noice-makers to distract foreign submarines when Russian submarines sail out from the Kola Peninsula to the North Atlantic. Other listening devices can detect sounds made by the propellers of enemy ships. The submarine has one nuclear reactor.
Information about the accident made it to the media many hours after the drama and the high level of secrecy surrounding the GUGI and its operations makes it unlikely that the full story will ever get out.
According to the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, the accident was triggered by a gas explosion on board the vessel. Representatives of Russian authorities on Tuesday informed the Norwegian side about the incident, Morten Strand from the Radiation Protection Authority told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
The Russian Defense Ministry, however, rebuffs that any such information was ever shared with the Norwegians.
There has not been measured any heightened levels of radiation in the area.
«Great loss for the Navy»
Onboard the submarine were several of the Russian Navy’s most experienced sailors. President Vladimir Putin in a meeting with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu on Tuesday confirmed that two of the men killed were highly decorated «Heroes of Russia», and that another seven were First Rang Captains. A total of 14 people died in the accident, the most serious Russia Navy accident since 2008.
According to SeverPost, the two Heroes of Russia were both from St.Petersburg.
«This is a great loss for the Navy, and yes, also for the Army,» Putin told his defense minister.
Sergey Shoigu was commissioned by the President to go to Severomorsk, the Northern Fleet headquarters, and was reported to have arrived on site already Wednesday morning.
Unknown reasons
The crew onboard the «Losharik» is believed to based on the best professionals in the country and several Russian experts doubt that human error was the reason for the accident.
According to newspaper Izvestia, these submariners were «the best in Russia», all of them trained in St.Petersburg and directly subordinated the Ministry of Defense. Security procedures are unprecedented and the officers do not live onboard the submarine but arrive only directly ahead of departure to sea. Unlike other submarines, the «Losharik» and the other special purpose subs are served by special technical crews, the newspaper writes.
Fishermen witnessed nuclear submarine drama
Captain who saved White Sea from nuclear disaster dies at 67
One of Russia’s most unknown heros, submarine captain Igor Grishkov, is dead 67 years old, the blog site Korabel reports. After retirement, he moved to Severodvinsk by the White Sea where he lived until his death this week.
Severodvinsk Mayor, Igor Skubenko, is quoted saying Captain Grishkov will remain forever in the history of Severodvinsk and his successful experience and struggle to rescue the submarine will be adopted by many other submarine commanders.
Failed coup in Moscow
What happened in the White Sea in September 1991 is little known to open public sources. Captain Igor Grishkov was sailing out the White Sea to the area where he was told to launch a ballistic test missile supposed to hit the designated target on the Chukotka Peninsula in the Far East of the Soviet Union.
Grishkov’s vessel, TK-17, was the fifth of the six giant Typhoon class submarines.
On board the 170 meters long vessel was a crew of 160 and, for the Soviet Union more important; a capacity of 20 SS-N-20 ballistic missiles, each tipped with up to 10 warheads. Fully armed, such submarine could carry 200 nuclear warheads. In other words, one of the deadliest machines ever built by humans.
For Moscow, the test was of high political importance. This was just a month after the failed coup against Mikhael Gorbachev and showing the outside world that everything was still intact became a priority mission for the strategic nuclear weapon forces of the USSR.
The test-shooting voyage in the White Sea became nothing but a terrifying failure.
First 23 years later, in 2014, parts of the story were published in Pravda Severa, the regional newspaper in Arkhangelsk. Other pieces of what happened are mentioned in navy blog sites and other Russian navy publications.
Sailing in subsea position to the area where the test-launch should take place, Captain Igor Grishkov knew the procedures. At this time, his vessel was only four years old and a proud for the Soviet Navy. Internationally, the Typhoons were well known from the thriller film from 1990 - The Hunt for Red October - based on Tom Clancy’s novel with the same name published in 1984.
Ready to launch
The Typhoon submarines and the on board SS-N-20 nuclear missiles are designed to launch its nuclear weapons from submerged position. So also for this test on September 27, 1991.
10-9-8-7-6….. , then suddenly the missile exploded, blowing off the cover of the silo. Captain Grishkov ordered his men in the command centre of the submarine to blow the tanks with air and make an emergency surfacing. At surface, the crew could see a massive fireball over the deck.
All 20 nuclear missile-silos on the Typhoons are in front of the tower.
The fire came from the solid propellant of the exploded missile that had leaked inside the silo and all around the deck near the blown-to-pieces part of the silo-cover. Also the rubber-cover of the outer hull was on fire. Within seconds, Captain Grishkov reportedly understood the danger. What would happen if the fire spread and triggered overheating of the highly flammable propellant in the other 19 missiles. Those who were not on board for test shooting but aimed for real nuclear war.
Dive man, dive!
There was only one option; dive down again and hope the seawater would extinguish the fire. He warned his crew members in the missile compartment to be prepared for flooding. Diving a more than 30,000 tons heavy vessel just after emergency surfacing is not easy, its dangerous and its risky.
But the alternative was so much worse.
The commanders on bridge managed the task quickly and then surfaced again. The manoeuvre was successful and a real nuclear catastrophe in the White Sea was miraculously prevented.
A Typhoon submarine is powered by two 190 MWt reactors. How many of the possible maximum of 190 nuclear warheads that were on board at the time of the accident is not known. Information about exact numbers of nuclear weapons is surrounded by secrecy, in the Soviet Union, like in today’s Russia. And in other nuclear weapons states.
Awaiting scrapping
TK-17 sailed back to the yard in Severodvinsk, some 40 kilometres west of Arkhangelsk on the south coast of the White Sea.
Back in port, the accident was kept secret to most people. Damage control was done, the burnt silo was cleaned and sealed off and the rubber on the outer hull was repaired. The silo in question was never used again, and TK-17 continued to sail with 19 missiles until she was laid up in 2004 and put in reserve.
Although the heroically saving of his crew and submarine, Captain Igor Grishkov was never awared with the medal “Hero of the Soviet Union” or today’s “Hero of Russia”.
For the last 14 years, TK-17, also holding the name “Arkhangelsk” stays side-by-side with another Typhoon class submarine, the “Severstal” TK-20 in Severodvinsk. Both two vessels are awaiting decommissioning.
Captain who saved White Sea from nuclear disaster dies at 67
To the memory of the submarine commanders who fired nuclear torpedoes at Novaya Zemlya
It was a deadly arms race going on and the Soviet Union was intensely developing its nuclear weapons program and conducting high-risk testing.
Georgy Lazarev was only 37 years old, but already among the most experienced submariners in the Soviet Navy. He had served in the Northern Fleet during the 2WW and in 1948 completed the Frunze Naval School in Leningrad.
But he had never been close to executing an order similar to the one he got in early fall 1957.
Lazarev and his crew had in May that same year first been ordered to sail from the home base of Polyarny near Murmansk to Severodvinsk. There, a local shipyard had strengthened the vessel’s torpedo compartment. Then, the submarine was ordered to set course for Balushya Bay in Novaya Zemlya.
The mission was top secret and none of the crew members, including Captain Lazarev himself, knew about their assignment, ship navigator on board the «S-144» Igor Murzenko recalls.
All through August and September the submarine crew conducted comprehensive preparations in Novaya Zemlya, in the area of the Balushya Bay and the nearby Chernaya Bay, Murzenko reveals in conversations made with Professor Georgy Kostev.
Torpedo T-5
Soviet authorities had in July 1954 decided that Novaya Zemlya, the Arctic archipelago situated between the Barents Sea and Kara Sea, would become test ground for nuclear weapons. Hectic subsequent developments took place on site. Only about 14 month later, a first testing with a nuclear-armed torpedo model T-5 was conducted. That, however, did not include a launch from a vessel, but only the submerging of the torpedo into the water and subsequent detonation.
It was only in 1957 that the T-5 was ready for real shooting. In April that year, the Soviet Council of Ministers had issued a secret decree that ordered test firing of nuclear weapons on surface and underwater, including with torpedoes, in the area.
The T-5 had been engineered in the early 1950s and final testing without ammunition reportedly took place in the Ladoga Lake near St Petersburg immediately prior to the operation in Novaya Zemlya.
The «S-144»
Captain Lazarev had an utmost systematic approach to his work and he paid great attention to the younger officers, he patiently listened to their assessments and points of view, Lieutenant-navigator Igor Murzenko says about his former boss.
They were serving on board a powerful vessel. The «S-144» had been in service since 1953. It was one of the first submarines of project 613, in NATO countries referred to the Whiskey-class. The 76 meter long diesel-engined attack submarine could hold a speed of 13,1 knots in submerged position and the weaponry was far more deadly compared with previous subs.
The “S-144”. Photo: Polkrf.ruThe launch
Commander Lazarev early in the morning 10th October 1957 got the instructions he had been waiting for: he was to sail to the Chernaya Bay and there from submerged position launch the nuclear torpedo. There was no specific target. The torpedo was simply to explode in the middle of a group of vessels placed in the area. A total of ten vessels, among them four submarines and three destroyers, were on site, the closest only 240 meters from the detonation point. The weapons developers wanted to study the effect of the detonation on nearby vessels.
It was absolute silence in the command post of the «S-144» as the clock approached 10 that morning. Then came the launch, and then again silence. Only the ticking seconds of the timer device could be heard, Igor Murzenko recalls. Then, on 9 o’clock 54 minutes, 32 seconds, the torpedo detonated. The depths were 30 meters and a powerful shockwave soon afterwards hit the «S-144».
«It was like crisp, almost metallic, knock on the ship, as if someone was lashing huge and heavy chains on the hulls,» Igor Murzenko describes.
The «S-144» was located about 10 km from the site and Captain Lazerov could through the periscope see a huge vertical column of water and subsequent fire mushroom.
Devastating effect
However, instead of leaving the area, the sub was instructed to sail to the middle of the detonation point. Several people, among them both Lazarev and Murzenko entered the bridge as the vessel reached the site. But they quickly returned back inside when they turned on the dosimeter which showed overwhelming radiation.
All the vessels that had been within a radius of 500 meters from the detonation were destroyed and sunk. Several of the other vessels got serious damage, but some of them were considered still fit for sailing and continued service after the blast.
The «S-144» itself returned to Belushya Bay and a week later sailed to Liinakhamari, the port in the Kola Peninsula located only few kilometers from the border to Norway. There, the ship was decontaminated. Later, it returned to its base in Polyarny. However, also the «S-144» had got damage from the blast in Chernaya Bay and was never again used as attack submarine. After 1957, the vessel was rebuilt and subsequently served as training target, Professor Georgy Kostev writes.
Captain Lazarev was released from duty and moved to St.Petersburg where he got a post in the Naval Academy.
The northern island of Novaya Zemlya seen from the Barents Sea. Photo: Thomas NilsenHealth hazard
None of the sailers involved in the operation had knowledge about the level of radiation to which they had been exposed. They had been told by their superiors that underwater detonations posed no threat to their health. However, several of the crew members of the «S-144» later experienced otherwise.
The situation was worst for the crews of the ships that had been used as targets in the Chernaya Bay. These sailors had viewed the explosion from the nearby shores and later, many of them sailed the same vessels back to their original bases.
Monument on site
The archipelago of Novaya Zemlya was subsequently intensively used as test area for the Soviet Union’s nuclear weapons developers. A total of 224 nuclear- and thermonuclear tests were carried out in the area, the last two on October 24, 1990.
As the remote Arctic lands of the Novaya Zemlya today again attract increasing attention from the Russian Armed Forces, the memory of heroes from the 1950s and early 1960s is brought to the forefront.
In July this year, the Northern Fleet conducted a major expedition in the Novaya Zemlya, including in the areas around Chernaya Bay. In that connection, the expedition members laid the foundation for what will become a memorial monument for the submarine commanders that executed nuclear torpedo testing.
Northern Fleet expedition to Novaya Zemlya in July 2018. Photo: mil.ru
On the monument will be listed the name of Georgy Lazarov and three other sub commanders; Nikolay Shumkov, Gennady Kaymak and Fyodor Kupriakov, the Northern Fleet informs.
It was Shumkov, who on 23rd October 1961 from his «B-130» submarine, first fired a torpedo with a 4,8 kilotons warhead that exploded under water in the Chernaya Bay and then four days later on the same site shot a torpedo with a 16 kilotons warhead that exploded on the surface.
The shooting was part of the exercise named «Coral». Also Gennary Kaymak was part of that exercise. On the 20th of October, he became the first ever to fire a nuclear missile that hit a target on the land surface of the Novaya Zemlya. Kaymyk was commander of the «K-102», a project 629 submarine («Golf»-class).
The “K-102” in 1961 fired a nuclear missile that hit a land target on Novaya Zemlya. Photo: Deepstorm.ru
To the memory of the submarine commanders who fired nuclear torpedoes at Novaya Zemlya
It was a deadly arms race going on and the Soviet Union was intensely developing its nuclear weapons program and conducting high-risk testing.
Georgy Lazarev was only 37 years old, but already among the most experienced submariners in the Soviet Navy. He had served in the Northern Fleet during the 2WW and in 1948 completed the Frunze Naval School in Leningrad.
But he had never been close to executing an order similar to the one he got in early fall 1957.
Lazarev and his crew had in May that same year first been ordered to sail from the home base of Polyarny near Murmansk to Severodvinsk. There, a local shipyard had strengthened the vessel’s torpedo compartment. Then, the submarine was ordered to set course for Balushya Bay in Novaya Zemlya.
The mission was top secret and none of the crew members, including Captain Lazarev himself, knew about their assignment, ship navigator on board the «S-144» Igor Murzenko recalls.
All through August and September the submarine crew conducted comprehensive preparations in Novaya Zemlya, in the area of the Balushya Bay and the nearby Chernaya Bay, Murzenko reveals in conversations made with Professor Georgy Kostev.
Torpedo T-5
Soviet authorities had in July 1954 decided that Novaya Zemlya, the Arctic archipelago situated between the Barents Sea and Kara Sea, would become test ground for nuclear weapons. Hectic subsequent developments took place on site. Only about 14 month later, a first testing with a nuclear-armed torpedo model T-5 was conducted. That, however, did not include a launch from a vessel, but only the submerging of the torpedo into the water and subsequent detonation.
It was only in 1957 that the T-5 was ready for real shooting. In April that year, the Soviet Council of Ministers had issued a secret decree that ordered test firing of nuclear weapons on surface and underwater, including with torpedoes, in the area.
The T-5 had been engineered in the early 1950s and final testing without ammunition reportedly took place in the Ladoga Lake near St Petersburg immediately prior to the operation in Novaya Zemlya.
The «S-144»
Captain Lazarev had an utmost systematic approach to his work and he paid great attention to the younger officers, he patiently listened to their assessments and points of view, Lieutenant-navigator Igor Murzenko says about his former boss.
They were serving on board a powerful vessel. The «S-144» had been in service since 1953. It was one of the first submarines of project 613, in NATO countries referred to the Whiskey-class. The 76 meter long diesel-engined attack submarine could hold a speed of 13,1 knots in submerged position and the weaponry was far more deadly compared with previous subs.
Commander Lazarev early in the morning 10th October 1957 got the instructions he had been waiting for: he was to sail to the Chernaya Bay and there from submerged position launch the nuclear torpedo. There was no specific target. The torpedo was simply to explode in the middle of a group of vessels placed in the area. A total of ten vessels, among them four submarines and three destroyers, were on site, the closest only 240 meters from the detonation point. The weapons developers wanted to study the effect of the detonation on nearby vessels.
It was absolute silence in the command post of the «S-144» as the clock approached 10 that morning. Then came the launch, and then again silence. Only the ticking seconds of the timer device could be heard, Igor Murzenko recalls. Then, on 9 o’clock 54 minutes, 32 seconds, the torpedo detonated. The depths were 30 meters and a powerful shockwave soon afterwards hit the «S-144».
«It was like crisp, almost metallic, knock on the ship, as if someone was lashing huge and heavy chains on the hulls,» Igor Murzenko describes.
The «S-144» was located about 10 km from the site and Captain Lazerov could through the periscope see a huge vertical column of water and subsequent fire mushroom.
Devastating effect
However, instead of leaving the area, the sub was instructed to sail to the middle of the detonation point. Several people, among them both Lazarev and Murzenko entered the bridge as the vessel reached the site. But they quickly returned back inside when they turned on the dosimeter which showed overwhelming radiation.
All the vessels that had been within a radius of 500 meters from the detonation were destroyed and sunk. Several of the other vessels got serious damage, but some of them were considered still fit for sailing and continued service after the blast.
The «S-144» itself returned to Belushya Bay and a week later sailed to Liinakhamari, the port in the Kola Peninsula located only few kilometers from the border to Norway. There, the ship was decontaminated. Later, it returned to its base in Polyarny. However, also the «S-144» had got damage from the blast in Chernaya Bay and was never again used as attack submarine. After 1957, the vessel was rebuilt and subsequently served as training target, Professor Georgy Kostev writes.
Captain Lazarev was released from duty and moved to St.Petersburg where he got a post in the Naval Academy.
None of the sailers involved in the operation had knowledge about the level of radiation to which they had been exposed. They had been told by their superiors that underwater detonations posed no threat to their health. However, several of the crew members of the «S-144» later experienced otherwise.
The situation was worst for the crews of the ships that had been used as targets in the Chernaya Bay. These sailors had viewed the explosion from the nearby shores and later, many of them sailed the same vessels back to their original bases.
Monument on site
The archipelago of Novaya Zemlya was subsequently intensively used as test area for the Soviet Union’s nuclear weapons developers. A total of 224 nuclear- and thermonuclear tests were carried out in the area, the last two on October 24, 1990.
As the remote Arctic lands of the Novaya Zemlya today again attract increasing attention from the Russian Armed Forces, the memory of heroes from the 1950s and early 1960s is brought to the forefront.
In July this year, the Northern Fleet conducted a major expedition in the Novaya Zemlya, including in the areas around Chernaya Bay. In that connection, the expedition members laid the foundation for what will become a memorial monument for the submarine commanders that executed nuclear torpedo testing.
On the monument will be listed the name of Georgy Lazarov and three other sub commanders; Nikolay Shumkov, Gennady Kaymak and Fyodor Kupriakov, the Northern Fleet informs.
It was Shumkov, who on 23rd October 1961 from his «B-130» submarine, first fired a torpedo with a 4,8 kilotons warhead that exploded under water in the Chernaya Bay and then four days later on the same site shot a torpedo with a 16 kilotons warhead that exploded on the surface.
The shooting was part of the exercise named «Coral». Also Gennary Kaymak was part of that exercise. On the 20th of October, he became the first ever to fire a nuclear missile that hit a target on the land surface of the Novaya Zemlya. Kaymyk was commander of the «K-102», a project 629 submarine («Golf»-class).
To the memory of the submarine commanders who fired nuclear torpedoes at Novaya Zemlya