Keeping the blogosphere posted on the goings on of the world of submarines since late 2004... and mocking and belittling general foolishness wherever it may be found. Idaho's first and foremost submarine blog. (If you don't like something on this blog, please E-mail me; don't call me at home.)

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

What Is It With The Russians Having Subs Under Tow Sink On Them?

First we had the old November-class SSN K-159 that sank under tow in the Barents in 2003 (resulting in the loss of nine crewmen) and now we get word that an old Whiskey-class SS being towed to Thailand just sank in the North Sea off Jutland. While this almost assuredly wasn't a military tow job, it seems like the Russian Navy would have at least checked out the condition of the tow before they gave them permission to leave. From the AP article:
There were no people or weapons on board the Whiskey-class submarine when it sank Monday in an area known as Jysk Reef, about 34 miles off the coast of the Jutland peninsula, the Danish navy said.
A tug boat was towing the vessel when it started taking in water, forcing the crew to cut it loose for their own safety, navy spokesman Klaus Randrup Rasmussen said. There was no risk of pollution because the submarine was not carrying any fuel, weapons or other hazardous material, he added...
...It was not immediately clear where the submarine was coming from. Skov said it was being towed to Thailand, and that the Thai owner was planning to salvage it...
...In Thailand, the owner of the Jesada Technik Museum in Nakhon Pathom Province told the Bangkok Post last month that he had bought a Russian Whiskey-class submarine for the museum. Danish authorities could not confirm whether that was the vessel that sank Monday.
I'm sorry, but this is just pathetic.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

ATTN: BubbleHead

whadda mean by saying "... this is just pathetic"?

is it some surprise to you that the Russian sub fleet is decrepit?

is it some suprise to you that a poorly maintained 40 year old submarine sunk during towing?

i guess i missed the purpose of this post - sorry

~ theDdoubleSstandard

2/06/2007 8:13 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank God that we know what we are doing when Towing a Sub. The Helena was towed over 1000 miles when the reduction gears stopped working.

Its not about how the subs where maintained its how they where towed and the weather conditions.

2/06/2007 4:35 PM

 
Blogger Map Maker said...

Note the sub was on it's way to a museum in Nakhom Phanom Thailand. Do you have any idea where Nakhom Phanom is? I do. 'Naked Fanny" ruled. The once fabled home of 56th Special Operations Wing, Igloo White, and JCRC

2/10/2007 9:36 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was working on the ship towing the submarine as the cook when it sank. The submarine hasn't been in russian hands since 1991. It has been a floating museum for about 10 years.

The reason why it sank was only partly because of the poor state of the submarine's hull. The hull had been overhauled in Poland prior to the voyage. The biggest factor of the sinking was due to extremely bad weather.

I also have to ask what do you mean by "this is just pathetic."

Next time, check all sources and facts before posting a blog of an actual event.

3/03/2007 7:45 AM

 

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