Recovering the Kursk

摘要

In August 2000, the Russian nuclear powered submarine Kursk sank following an explosion in its forward compartments. The explosion was probably caused by the gas generating system in a prototype torpedo reacting with its main propellent, burning and exploding with an equivalent power of 100-200kg TNT. The explosion ripped out 80m of the submarine's pressure hull and a large part of the outer casing. Two bulkheads burst as a result of the explosion, and a third was buckled so much that it collapsed when the Kursk flooded. The forward reactor compartment bulkhead remained intact. The Kursk came to rest on the seabed 110m from the surface. Questions have been asked as to why an experimental torpedo was tested where it could send its propellent system into a weapons storage area. This was poor technology and an inability to maintain it with engineering, design and management systems all breaking. There were a series of technological failures because the support could not cope. Two expeditions to the Kursk took place. The first was in August 2000, just after the accident. The second was in October 2000, and recovered 12 bodies from the stern of the submarine. The second expedition was also used to learn about radiation and environmental conditions in the submarine. This data formed the beginning of the safety assessment for recovering the submarine and the remaining lost crew.