The Kursk Disaster - What is your theory?

[seawolf34]

I saw a program on one of the documentary channels on sky a while ago which went into great detail about what happened onboard the Kursk. A flaw in the torpedos they were carrying caused an explosion which caused the disaster.

Got no idea if all that's true of course, could all be a cover up but I certainly remember alot of detail was shown in the program. They talked about how the inital explosion and fireball didn't just kill the men in the torpedo room but even crew members as far back as the control room were either rendered unconcious or killed. If I remember correctly the reason they explained as to why the fireball from the explosion so easily traveled back through the compartments was down to something like how the air conditioning system worked on the sub, or something like that.

One thing I remember being talked about was evidence that the inner torpedo hatch wasn't properly closed and secured when the torpedo explosion occured, if it was, the initial explosion and it's effects `might` (that's my words, I can't remember exactly what was said as I watched this program a while ago!) not of been so dramatic further away from the torpedo room & if the crew in the con hadn't been either knocked out or killed outright then who knows if they could of managed to get the sub to the surface.

It was a very interesting documentary, keep an eye out for it on national geographic channel, it's bound to be repeated.

[geetrue]

Whatever the problem was that sunk her ... it had to happen fast.
Most US submarines run around with all compartment hatches open. I suspect the Russians are the same ...
only in an emergency or a drill or for battle stations would the hatches be dogged watertight.

The topedo's were suspected in the Scorpion sinking too,
but I think not. Not in that case, but aren't these Russian torpedo's
the super fast 60 to 70 kts and only go in a straight line?

Perhaps their own fish did it, but not Uncle Sam's ... that's for sure.

But don't ya'll remember some of the crew made it to the aft escape trunk and died in the trunk from lack of air?

I thought they left a note, a clue perhaps.

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by geetrue

I thought they left a note, a clue perhaps.

They did leave a note, but they were far from the forward compartments when it all happened, and I'm sure their clue would be no more accurate than those that we have ourselves. I'm certain that whatever happened, happend fast and unexpectedly. As you yourself suggest about the compartment hatches - I would guess whatever happened to the sub, it was not rigged for any sort of emergency circumstances. If it were, as Kapitan suggests in terms of the torpedo survivability, it's unlikely that would have sunk the sub.

As far as I understand, were this not a completely unexpected event (and if it weren't an accident, I would think it would be expected), the damage would not have been so catastrophical and there would be survivors, the sub could maybe even surface. When the thing blew up, and everything seems to suggest that the 'thing' was inside of it, it was already too late to start doing anything. Water went from compartment to compartment and the sub just sank.