Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Indian Submarine Suffers In-Port Explosion, Duty Section Feared Lost

Indian Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhurakshak (S63) suffered a series of onboard explosions shortly after midnight local time, and is apparently sunk at the pier. This article says that duty section of 18 men, including three officers (one the XO), has been declared dead.


The last article also featured speculation from a retired Indian submarine Admiral that a battery well hydrogen explosion triggered onboard ordnance.
Says Admiral Singh, “In the Kilo Class submarine, the ammunition compartment is located directly above the battery compartment, in the forward part of the vessel. A fire in the battery compartment could have ignited or detonated the ammunition on board.”
If it was a battery well explosion, it draws eerie parallels to a previous hydrogen explosion on the same boat in 2010 that killed one Submariner.

Staying at PD...

Update 2115 15 Aug: Here's an updated story listing the lost crew members names, and speculating that the more powerful explosions were onboard ordnance cooking off.

Update 1555 19 Aug: It looks like they're leaning towards an "ordnance cooking off somehow" explanation.
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17 comments:

  1. Anonymous8/14/2013 12:20 PM

    If preparations for getting diesel subs underway cannot be reliably managed with better professionalism than reflected by the INF Sindhurakshak incident in March (submerged submarines are generally immune to 'bad weather') than operation of nuclear submarines, like Chakra, will undoubtedly prove more fateful, perhaps tragically so. - Vigilis May 29, 2013.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous8/14/2013 12:28 PM

    Hi Vigilis. Self promote much?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous8/14/2013 5:45 PM

    Sure, Subasket. Are you ready?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous8/14/2013 6:46 PM

    Three comments and no one has yet blamed the gays for smoking pole near the battery well yet? Given the way comments go on this site I'm rather surprised.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous8/14/2013 7:37 PM

    They must have mixed their curry too hot. It shoots through my ass the same way.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous8/14/2013 8:33 PM

    Indian brothers, rest your oars. RIP.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous8/15/2013 4:28 AM

    Submarining is a tough sport

    Even tougher if you can't play by rules as this unfortunate ship has now finally shown, after 2 previously clear indications that they were unsafe (Battery Fire, and inability to submerge to avoid a storm)

    Sailors, rest your oars.....

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous8/15/2013 1:07 PM

    "must have mixed their curry too hot." That's just great shipmate. way to be.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Vigilis8/15/2013 7:56 PM

    According to quoted sources in the Indian Navy a short circuit caused by human error when loading missiles, caused the sub's devastation reported Mumbai Mirror newspaper on Thursday.

    More here: http://aquilinefocus.blogspot.com/2013/08/latest-india-sub-fatalies-human-error.html

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  10. 33838/15/2013 10:20 PM

    So the accident cause is already known? That's some top investigatory skills, there.

    The 18 victims, and the people of India, deserve better management of their Fleet.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous8/15/2013 11:23 PM

    So true. Vigilis added a new link about retired Indian submarine officers seeking a deeper probe.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous8/15/2013 11:54 PM

    God bless to those sailors and their families.



    hagar

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  13. Navy Grade 36 Bureaucrat8/17/2013 10:15 PM

    Submarining is a dangerous field. How many US submarines had problems like this in the past?

    ReplyDelete
  14. gunnergoz8/18/2013 12:36 PM

    The only predictable thing about this was the inevitable news release from a Russian deputy military minister claiming that poor Indian navy training or procedures were likely to blame...since we all know that Russian shipbuilding and technology is flawless.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Zoe Brain8/26/2013 8:43 AM

    Ah spit.

    Any idea if there's a fund for the families?

    There but for the Grace of God...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Obat Darah Tinggi9/09/2013 10:45 PM

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    ReplyDelete
  17. Unknown9/14/2013 4:24 AM

    Life is very critical in submarine. According to Health And Safety Training Peterborough, there are not even a single place on earth where you can be safe for 100% surety.

    Regards,
    Arnold Brame

    ReplyDelete

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