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News of the Kursk Nuclear Submarine Sinking Emerged Only Gradually In the Days Following the Accident; The Complete Picture of What Happened Still Remains A Mystery
the Kursk (K-41) was the newest of 11 Oscar 11-class attack submarines designed to stalk U.S. carrier battle groups and, in time of war, attack with nuclear cruise missiles. The Kursk, home based in Severomorsk, Russia, was commissioned in December 1994. The 24,000-ton (152-meter) submarine was one of the newest Russian submarines, and an important element of Russia's national defense. The tragedy aboard the Kursk continues to receive far more media coverage than any other accident involving Russian naval vessels. This perhaps explains why so much contradictory information and unsubstantiated theories have been made.
Event Scenario
The Russian Military News Agency (a news agency specializing in military-related news)-reported on May 11, 2000, according to a spokesperson for the fleet's staff-that during JulyAugust the training of Northern Fleet search and rescue forces on providing aid to a "sunk" nuclear submarine would take place. The submarine, the Kursk, would park itself near the seabed at a depth of about 100 meters to imitate an emergency onboard. A Russian rescue vessel would then simulate rescue operations.
According to a Russian naval source, there was in fact a naval exercise taking place (currently only one naval exercise occurs per year); however, the source denied that it was for search and rescue training for sunk or distressed nuclear submarines.
On August 14,, 2000,;, Russian authorities officially announced that one of their newest submarines had sunk (August 12) in about 350 feet of water with all hands aboard (standard crew was 107 men; however, aboard were 118 apparently to observe this naval training exercise). The submarine was manufactured with nine sections and three escape hatches-in the front, on top of the fin and in the rear section-there was also an escape craft inside the fin.
The Russian authorities, almost immediately after the disaster, reported that sonar aboard the Cruiser Peter the Great had detected the sound of a powerful hydro-acoustic compression wave, which they believed was an underwater explosion. The cruiser used this signal wave to calculate the Kursk's position. The Russian Cruiser Pyotr Veliky, on August 13 using a sonic depth finder, also...