Russian Nuke Sub Crew Prevented ‘Planetary Catastrophe’

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a recent incident involving a fire on a Russian nuclear-powered submarine, exploring the potential consequences of the fire and the implications of the crew's actions in preventing a larger disaster. Participants examine the nature of the submarine's mission, the cause of the fire, and the historical context of nuclear submarine incidents.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the severity of the threat posed by the fire, suggesting that a meltdown would likely be contained to a small region of the ocean due to the submarine being submerged.
  • Others argue that the description of the event as a "planetary catastrophe" may have been exaggerated for the sake of comforting the victims' families rather than reflecting the actual risk.
  • One participant notes that the fire was reportedly caused by a short circuit, which spread smoke throughout the submarine, complicating the crew's ability to respond.
  • There is mention of historical incidents involving nuclear submarines, with a reference to K-278 as a worst-case scenario, although the relevance of this example is not fully explored.
  • Several participants express interest in additional articles covering the incident, indicating a desire for more information about the submarine's capabilities and the specifics of the mission.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the actual threat level posed by the incident, with some believing it was overstated while others acknowledge the potential for serious consequences. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of the fire and the submarine's mission.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include uncertainty about the submarine's mission specifics, the exact nature of the fire's impact, and the historical context of previous nuclear submarine incidents. The discussion reflects varying interpretations of the event's significance.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in military technology, nuclear safety, and historical incidents involving submarines may find this discussion relevant.

Greg Bernhardt
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Anyone been following this story? Sensational or did we really narrowly miss a global nuclear disaster? What were the possible consequences of the fire spreading to the reactor?

The 14 sailors who died during a fire last week on a nuclear-powered Russian military submarine prevented a “planetary catastrophe,” a top naval officer said at their funeral, according to media reports.

Captain Sergei Pavlov, an aide to the commander of Russia’s navy, praised the heroism of the men, who died as they battled to stop the fire from spreading in the submersible.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...nuke-sub-crew-prevented-planetary-catastrophe
 
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I don't think so. As long as the vessel was dove, the impacts of a meltdown should be contained to a small region of the ocean. As it was a research vessel, it hardly had nuclear rockets on board, and even if, could a fire ignite more than the rocket fuel?

My suspicion is, as it was said at the funeral, that it was mainly meant to comfort the relatives, rather than an actual description of the threat.

Wiki says we have currently seven confirmed losses of atomic subs, 2 US and 5 Russian, and none of it posed an immediate threat, although their machines will sooner or later rust and release radioactivity.
 
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The daily Kommersant, citing military circles, reported that the fire was apparently triggered by a short circuit in the control center, setting fire to cables or oil. Through the ventilation system, the smoke was then distributed to the other sections of the submarine. The crew did not have enough time to protect themselves. Only five surviving crew members had managed to extinguish the fire and bring the submarine back up.

The Kremlin had previously stated that it was a deep-sea submarine on a seafloor exploration mission. However, with senior army officers on board, it is believed that this was no ordinary mission.

(https://www.dw.com/de/russischer-u-boot-unfall-brandursache-klar/a-49469110)
 
K-278
Can be a reference for the 'worst case'.
 
Filip Larsen said:
In case anyone is interested, Ars Technica also ran an article on the accident:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...0-fathoms-the-fire-aboard-russias-secret-sub/
Wow, that's an unusual submarine! I didn't know that deep-diving subs like that existed. 6000m depth is pretty incredible...

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