One of the most difficult and dangerous military specialties is a profession Submariner.For decades the Soviet Union concealed cases of tragedies on a submarine that cause human casualties.The situation changed in 1989, when the whole country shuddered at the news of the accident on the submarine "Komsomolets".At the same time talking about other disasters, including the circumstances in which the lost submarine K 8.
Features
K-8 - a submarine of the Soviet Navy with nuclear reactor, which was created under the project 627 A"Keith."By its construction began in 1957, the year and the summer of 1960 a new submarine was enrolled in the Northern Fleet.K-8 (submarine) had the following specifications:
- length - 1074 cm;
- width - 796 cm;
- immersion depth - 300 m;
- speed under water - 30 knots;
- average sediment - 565 cm;
- surfaced speed- 15.5 knots.
first accident
After K-8 (submarine) was adopted by the Soviet Navy, it was recorded in the first unexpected situation: the ruptured pipe cooling circuit with subsequent leakage of coolant and a strong release of radioactive gas.As a result, the crew received a fairly significant radiation dose, while the three sailors were found signs typical of acute radiation sickness.Similar incidents have also occurred on June 1st and 8th of October 1961 year, so the navy began to say that K-8 - submarine service which is life threatening.
events preceding the crash
In the period from the beginning of August 1966 to July 1968 the nuclear submarine K-8 was on the famous shipyard "Zvezdochka", where it made a major overhaul.In addition, in May 1969 he was appointed commander of the vessel experienced diver VBBessonov, immediately won the respect of the crew.Thus, it seemed that the soon-to-8 (submarine) can restore its reputation, and it will no longer be called the "accursed."
Mediterranean campaign
night on February 17, 1970 K-8 (submarine), the crew of which had good training, came from the base in Gremikha in his first and last a long autonomous navigation.Submarine was ordered to go to the area of the North Atlantic and to take part in the largest exercise in the history of the Navy under the name of "Ocean-70."Their start was scheduled for April 14 and the final day coincided with the celebration of the centennial of VILenin.
April 8
death of the submarine K-8 took place in the waters of the Bay of Biscay.At that time, it was not far from the Azores, and there were no signs woes.8 April, with ascent from a depth of 160 meters in the wheelhouse hydroacousticians K-8, where the submarine power cables pass, there was a fire.At the same time the commander reported the fire, which occurred in the 7th slot.The crew immediately began fighting for his life, and after 5 minutes the submarine appeared on the surface.The situation is complicated by the fact that the fire began to spread very quickly on the submarine through the air ducts.At this point, being ridden by a fire in the 7th compartment Haslavsky officers B., A. Chudinov, iron and G. G. Shostakovskii accomplished a real feat: realizing that they doom themselves to failure, sailors battened down the hatch and prevent thermal explosion.In addition, they were able to stop the nuclear reactor.
April 9
After midnight, the crew stood on the bridge through a central office.At 2 am, the sailors with great difficulty otdrait hatch 8th compartment, brought 4 people and carried 15 corpses.The reason for the loss of life was heavy smoke and lack of protection.Also managed to rescue 19 crew members of the 4th compartment.While the boat is afloat, the sailors continued to fight for his life.
afternoon sea state increased, and the submarine began to give bank.To counter this situation were made blowing the main ballast tanks, but it yielded no positive results.
Later, 43 members of the crew were evacuated to the transport, and the remainder are placed in the first two compartments and on the bridge.
Rescue and loss
Most of the staff of K-8 was taken on the ship "Avior" belonging to Bulgaria.In the context of a strong storm the crew fought to save the ship, but the submarine sank yet.The death of the nuclear submarine K-8 was the first major loss of the nuclear fleet.Total killed 52 crew members, and she has remained ever submarine lying 490 km from the coast of Spain at a depth of 4680 m.
investigation
to clarify the circumstances of the death of the ship Severomorsk immediately began working government commission.There also on the floating base "Volga" was taken crew members.A few days later they were asked to play the whole course of events that took place on 8-9 April on board the submarine K-181, which is an exact copy of the K-8.It is possible to establish the investigative action that the command of the submarine and its crew in an emergency situation behaved very professionally and competently.
government decree victim of a submarine captain VBBessonov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and all other midshipmen and officers were awarded the Order of the Red Star.As for the sailors, and the dead, and the survivors were submitted to the Medal of Ushakov.
Memory
How it was made in Soviet times, the accident on K-8 did not get much publicity.However, two streets in the town of Gremikha were renamed in honor of the commander of the submarine and the ship's doctor Yuri Ilchenko.Last sacrificed their lives, losing their breathing apparatus operated one of the crew members, who at the time of the accident was in the hospital.
4 years after the accident in the same town was a monument.It is possible to see the members of the crew of K-8 (submarine), a list of the dead and the inscription "submariners who died at his post until the end fulfilled his duty."
Now you know how lost one of the first domestic nuclear submarines of the fleet, and that was the cause of the disaster.
