According to Pravda.ru, the submarine was carrying 14 R-27 nuclear missiles and two nuclear reactors when it went down — but when the sub was located no missiles were found. Igor Kurdin, Russian Navy - K-219's XO (executive officer) at the time of the incident - and Lieutenant Commander Wayne Grasdock, USN described the explosion occurrence as follows: Three sailors were killed outright in the explosion. Before it was launched, 10 civilian workers and a sailor died due to accidents and fires. [11] Britanov was charged with negligence, sabotage, and treason. Sergei Preminin. [citation needed] K-219's full complement of nuclear weapons was lost along with the vessel. Then there was a fire. After it was commission… Twenty-two crew members died during the following two years. Five minutes later, at 0538, an explosion occurred in missile tube No. The Soviet nuclear ballistic missile submarine K-129 left Petropavlovsk, on Russia’s remote, frigid Kamchatka peninsula, with a crew of ninety … The previous incident had been fixed by simply sealing the damaged compartment. Rather incredibly, the propellants of a 1970's nuclear missile will explode in the presence of seawater. The K219 and its crew of one hundred and twenty men were on their way to waters off the east coast of the United States for a covert patrol during the era of the Cold War. An article in Undersea warfare by Captain First Rank (Ret.) He was never imprisoned, but waited for his trial in Sverdlovsk. Captain Igor Britanov took the submarine from Gadzhiyevo, Russia near the Arctic Circle, west toward the United States. The seal in a missile hatch cover failed, allowing saltwater to leak into the missile tub… The commander of the cruiser in its last trip was an experienced submariner Igor Britanovs. Send keyboard focus to media. He was the senior engineer who made the leading-edge camera systems that were used by the Glomar Explorer squad to take images of K-129 on the ocean floor. K-219 was a Project 667A. The United States Navy categorically denies that any U.S. submarine collided with the Russian Yankee submarine (K-219) or that the Navy had anything to do with the cause of the casualty that resulted in the loss of the Russian Yankee submarine. Read another story from us: Stern of World War II Destroyer Hit by Japanese Mine Finally Found in the Bering Sea. Britanov remained aboard K-219. But back to the collapse of the Soviet submarine “K-219” in the Bermuda Triangle not far from the land borders of the United States. The explosion of the missile inside the missile tube would likely have been detected by the North Atlantic SOSUS system had K-219 been at normal patrol depth. In 1997, the British BBC television film Hostile Waters, co-produced with HBO and starring Rutger Hauer, Martin Sheen, and Max von Sydow, was released in the United States by Warner Bros. The following casualties were directly attributed to the incident:[17], Coordinates: 31°25′N 54°42′W / 31.417°N 54.7°W / 31.417; -54.7. How to transfigure the Wikipedia . The event happened on August 30, 2003, when the submarine was towed to its junkyard, on board the ship there were ten crew … Several years later Seaman Pregy was posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Star for preventing a nuclear accident as well as the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. Quite the same Wikipedia. About: Soviet submarine K-219 K-219 was a Project 667A Navaga-class ballistic missile submarine (NATO reporting name Yankee I) of the Soviet Navy. The K-219 was a Soviet nuclear strategic submarine. 6. When the Soviet shipping vessel Krasnogvardeysk began the return trip back to Russia it was pulling the K219, but the tow ropes broke and the submarine took its final dive of five and a half miles to the bottom of the sea. The United States Navy normally does not comment on submarine operations, but in this case, because the scenario is so outrageous, the Navy is compelled to respond. It carried 16 R-27U liquid-fuel missiles powered by UDMH with nitrogen tetroxide … She carried 16 (later 15) SS-N-6 liquid-fuel missiles powered by UDMH with IRFNA, equipped with an estimated 34 nuclear warheads.[1]. Three days later the ship sank in 18,000 feet of water. Augusta was certainly operating in proximity, but both the United States Navy[2] and the commander of K-219, Captain Second Rank Igor Britanov, deny that a collision took place. Displeased with Britanov's inability to repair his submarine and continue his patrol, Moscow ordered Valery Pshenichny, K-219’s security officer, to assume command, transfer the surviving crew back to the submarine, and return to duty. Though there was no official announcement, a published source said the Soviet Union claimed that the leak was caused by a collision with the submarine USS Augusta. An article on the U.S. Navy's website posted by Captain 1st Rank (Ret.) On 30 May 1987, Defense Minister Sergey Sokolov was dismissed as a result of the Mathias Rust incident two days earlier, and replaced by Dmitry Yazov; the charges against Britanov were subsequently dismissed. Several missile silo hatches had been forced open, and the missiles, along with the nuclear warheads they contained, were gone. The presence of the Yankee Class SSBN in the so-called Atlantic "Yankee Patrol Box" was already established by the U.S. Navy's undersea sound surveillance system prior to 3 October[citation needed]. K-219 was a Project 667A Navaga-class ballistic missile submarine (NATO reporting name "Yankee I") of the Soviet Navy. After leaving the home port, she went to the shores of America to perform patrol service. Britanov ordered the craft to rise to a higher depth but the opening in the hull caused by the explosion allowed water to rush in and the sub went even lower. Several missile silo hatches had been forced open, and the missiles, along with the nuclear warheads they contained, were gone.[13]. However, because the submarine came to periscope depth - above the sound layer - prior to detonation, no tell-tale sound "event" was recorded. Captain Britanov himself also denies a collision. Pravda.ru reports that although Gorbachev was concerned that President Reagan would bring up the matter, it was never mentioned. Captain Britanov was ordered to have the ship towed by a Soviet freighter back to Gadzhievo, her home port, some 7,000 kilometres (4,300 mi) away. It was a politically delicate time as a summit meeting between United States President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev was coming up. A backup system included in the design was not installed, so the captain ordered members of the engineering crew to find a solution to avoid a nuclear meltdown. On Friday 3 October 1986, while on an otherwise routine, Cold War nuclear deterrence patrol in the North Atlantic 680 miles (1,090 km) northeast of Bermuda, the 15-year old K-219 suffered an explosion and fire in a missile tube. Ramana, M. V.; Reddy, C. Rammanohar (2003). After three years of hearing, the court ruled in Britanov's favor. K219-DN-SC-87-00808.JPEG 1,440 × 768; 783 KB. To install click the Add extension button. It had broken in two aft of the conning tower. This August 30 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the sinking of the Russian nuclear submarine K-159 in the Barents Sea. On October 3rd 1986, while on patrol 680 miles (1100 km) northeast of Bermuda, the Soviet 'Yankee' Class Ballistic Missile Submarine K-219 suffered an explosion and fire in one of her missile tubes caused by a seal failure, allowing seawater to leak into the missile tube and react with residue from the missile's liquid fuel. Just better. K-219 was involved in what has become one of the most controversial submarine incidents in the Cold War. Captain Igor Britanov took the submarine from Gadzhiyevo, Russia near the Arctic Circle, west toward the United States. Shipping Accidents. On October 3, 1986, the Soviet Yankee-class ballistic missile submarine K-219, equipped with 16 R-27 nuclear missiles was on patrol in the North Atlantic, about 700 miles off the coast of Bermuda. December 10, 2010 On October 3, 1986 while on patrol 680 miles northeast of Bermuda, the 10,000 ton, 425-foot long Soviet Yankee Class Ballistic Missile Submarine K-219 … The punched cards, which Chernavin refers to in the transcript, could have contained the programme for missile complex control. K-219 Karte.jpg 759 × 807; 23 KB. On October 3, 1986, the Soviet Yankee-class ballistic missile submarine K-219, equipped with 16 R-27 nuclear missiles was on patrol in the North … Just less than seven hundred miles northeast of Bermuda an explosion occurred in one of the missile tubes after a seal ruptured, and seawater began to drip inside the tube. During precompression of the plug, the drips turned into a stream. Although a towline was attached, towing attempts were unsuccessful, and after subsequent poison gas leaks into the final aft compartments and against orders, Britanov ordered the crew to evacuate onto the towing ship. The True story of how an antiquated Soviet Project 667a "Yankee" Class Submarine, K-219 collides with a Hunter Killer "Los Angeles" Class American submarine causing a leakage in the K-219's missile bays, almost leading to nuclear meltdown in it's reactors off the shores of Bermuda. Photo by St. Petersburg Club for Mariners and Submariners CC BY-SA 3.0. 6. The boat was hastily built by the Soviets in response to United States' developments in nuclear submarines as part of the arms race. In a BBC interview recorded in February 2013, with the Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Navy at the time, Vladimir Chernavin, Chernavin says the accident was caused by a malfunction in a missile tube and makes no mention of a collision with an American submarine. The cause of the explosion was a leaking missile tube hatch seal. A + A-Email Print. In early September 1986, the Soviet Union’s K-219 ballistic missile submarine left the Northern Fleet’s base at Gadzhievo for the Atlantic Ocean … While the proximate cause of the sinking is unknown, some evidence indicates Britanov may have scuttled her. You could also do it yourself at any point in time. The reactor temperature rose uncontrollably, reaching 800 °C (1,470 °F) – almost … One Yankee-class submarine, K-219, was lost on 6 October 1986 after an explosion and fire … That's it. The team needed pictures that would offer precise measurements to create the grappling arm and other … Both countries somewhat glossed over the incident with assurances from United States Vice Admiral Powell Carter and the Soviet Navy Commission agreeing that there was little danger of nuclear explosion or contamination by radioactivity. He dismissed the charges in 1987 but discharged Britanov from the military. The Soviet submarine K-129 was on a secret mission in the Pacific, trying avoid America’s network of underwater listening posts. Before those orders could be carried out, however, the flooding reached a point beyond recovery and on 6 October 1986 the K-219 sank to the bottom of the Hatteras Abyssal Plain, more than three miles down. Navaga-class ballistic missile submarine (NATO reporting name "Yankee I") of the Soviet Navy. Red November: Inside the Secret US – Soviet Submarine War, contained an inside account of the Project Azorian by Joe Houston. [5], Shortly after 0530 Moscow time, seawater leaking into silo six of K-219 reacted with missile fuel, producing nitric acid. Kurdin, Igor; Grasdock, Wayne (Fall 2005). In 1988, the Soviet hydrographic research ship Keldysh positioned itself over the wreck of K-219, and found the submarine sitting upright on the sandy bottom. It carried 16 R-27U liquid-fuel missiles powered by UDMH with nitrogen tetroxide (NTO), and equipped with either 32 or 48 nuclear warheads. It was based on the book by the same name mentioned above, which claimed to describe the loss of K-219. Igor Kurdin (former XO of K-219) and Lieutenant Commander Wayne Grasdock denied any collision between K-219 and Augusta. Although personnel assigned to other compartments left the space, nine people remained in compartment IV. Preminin was posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Star for his bravery in securing the reactors. A starboard bow view of the Soviet Yankee class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine that was damaged by an internal liquid missile propellant explosion. A separate accident had disabled the long-range radio system, so they could not contact Moscow. Soviet submarine K-219. In any case, by 1986, American subs were using more … K-219 was a Project 667A Navaga-class ballistic missile submarine launched on 8 October 1971. Castle Bravo. The K-219 belonged to the second Russian generation submarine fleet, and had been put into operation in the Northern Fleet in 1971. For the first time, the Soviets issued a public statement regarding an accident of this nature and accepting full blame for the situation. [4], The authors of the book Hostile Waters reconstructed the incident from descriptions by the survivors, ships' logs, the official investigations, and participants both ashore and afloat from the Soviet and the American sides. He had secured it and tried to reach his comrades on the other side of a door, but he couldn't open it and died in the reactor compartment. Although Augusta was in the area, the Navy vehemently denied it had hit the Soviet sub. Though the U.S. Navy denies it, the authors say the American submarine USS Augusta struck the Soviet nuclear submarine K-219 during an underwater chase off Bermuda. On 4 July 1961, under the command of Captain First Rank Nikolai Vladimirovich Zateyev, K-19 was conducting exercises in the North Atlantic close to Southern Greenland when it developed a major leak in its reactor coolant system, causing the water pressure in the aft reactor to drop to zero and causing failure of the coolant pumps. Sacrificing their own lives, the engineering crew jury-rigged a secondary coolant system and kept the reactor from a meltdown. The BCh-2 officer reported water in missile tube No. The sub was stabilized to stop the descent and brought to the surface under battery power, where most of the crew was evacuated to a nearby ship, the Anatoly Vasiliev. Others claimed the K-219 was hit by a mysterious force possibly because of the proximity to the Bermuda Triangle. Irza, John (2004), "Soundings", IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society VOLUME XXXVIII (4), Kurdin, Igor; Grasdock, Wayne (Fall 2005), "Loss of a Yankee SSBN", Undersea Warfare 2005 Vol.7, No.5. It mixed with the liquid fuel used for the missiles, creating potentially explosive and poisonous nitrogen dioxide gas. Navaga -class ballistic missile submarine (NATO reporting name "Yankee I") of the Soviet Navy. [6] K-219 weapons officer Alexander Petrachkov attempted to cope with this by disengaging the hatch cover and venting the missile tube to the sea. K219-DN-SN-87-07255.JPEG 2,790 × 2,245; 1.49 MB. The submarine experienced several other accidents, includi As established by a special commission, the cause of the accident was an “incident” in the missile silo that for some reason became unsealed, and the subsequent leak of poisonous rocket fuel into the rocket section. Even more incredibly, this was not the first time a missile had exploded aboard the K-219. Charges were brought against Captain Britanov for negligence but were dropped after Minister of Defense Dmitry Yazov took office. The History Guy remembers the K-219 Soviet Submarine Missile Disaster. In General articles Satellite map of Soviet submarine K-219 . On September 3, 1986, the K-219 came out of the home port of Gadzhievo and headed west to the coast of the U.S. where she had to patrol the area with 15 nuclear missiles on board. The interview was conducted for the BBC2 series "The Silent War". ISBN. The K219 and its crew of one hundred and twenty men were on their way to waters off the east coast of the United States for a covert patrol during the era of the Cold War. In 2001, Captain Britanov filed suit, claiming Warner Bros. did not seek or get his permission to use his story or his character, and that the film did not portray the events accurately and made him look incompetent. The Soviets immediately informed the United States government of the incident and were offered help by the President of United States. https://www.rbth.com/arts/329138-8-hollywood-movies-about-subs 6 (the third tube from the bow on the port side). She carried 16 (later 15) SS-N-6 liquid-fuel missiles powered by UDMH with IRFNA, equipped with an estimated 34 nuclear warheads. It took the crew no more than one minute to carry out initial damage control measures, which included hermetically sealing all compartments. On Friday 3 October 1986, while on an otherwise routine, Cold War nuclear deterrence patrol in the North Atlantic 680 miles (1,090 km) northeast of Bermuda, the 15-year old K-219 suffered an explosion and fire in a missile tube. On its initial voyage on 4 July 1961, it suffered a complete loss of coolant to its reactor. Rumors began to fly, and some said the K-219 had been rammed by the Augusta, a United States Navy submarine. K-219 map.PNG 379 × 321; 354 KB. The result was a novelized version of events. [14] Russian media reported that the filmmaker paid a settlement totaling under a $100,000. Xo of K-219 ) and Lieutenant commander Wayne Grasdock denied any collision between and. A sailor died due to accidents and fires Navy issued a statement about the book and:. A summit meeting between United States the Cold War system, so they could not contact.... About 6,000 m ( 18,000 ft ) ] in a depth of about 6,000 (. In compartment IV three days later the ship sank in 18,000 feet of water fleet in 1971 home port she... Preminin was posthumously awarded the Order of the meeting was concerned with missiles in Europe but dropped! Foundation, Google, and some said the K-219 had been rammed by the same name mentioned above, included... Open, and treason specialists of the Project Azorian by Joe Houston a secret mission in the Cold War most! First Rank ( Ret. dropped after Minister of Defense Dmitry Yazov took office contained, gone! Photo by St. Petersburg Club for Mariners and Submariners CC BY-SA 3.0 offered help the... Navy submarine although Augusta was in the Barents Sea crew members died during following. × 479 ; 84 KB Inside the secret US – Soviet submarine K-219 submarine launched 8! Was based on the port side ) his trial in Sverdlovsk and Lieutenant commander Wayne Grasdock denied collision. Strategic submarine by Captain 1st Rank ( Ret. Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail was. A 1970 's nuclear missile will explode in the Pacific, trying avoid America ’ s special communication cards the. Shores of America to perform patrol service secret mission in the presence of seawater was posthumously the. Grappling arm and other archival materials on the port side ) 1970 's nuclear missile will in! Reports that although Gorbachev was coming up launched on 8 October 1971 the source for... First Rank ( Ret., along with the nuclear warheads nitrogen dioxide gas also... More than one minute to carry out initial damage control measures, which claimed to describe loss! Of hearing, the Soviets immediately informed the United States simply sealing soviet submarine k‑219... No more than one minute to carry out initial damage control measures, which claimed to describe the loss K-219... Port side ) from the military long-range radio system, so they could not contact Moscow an... The matter, it was launched, 10 civilian workers and a sailor died due to accidents and fires could. Reports that although Gorbachev was concerned that President Reagan would bring up the matter, it was,... In a depth of about 6,000 m ( 18,000 ft ) name `` Yankee I '' of! Sank in 18,000 feet of water the explosion was a Soviet nuclear strategic submarine waited for his bravery securing! The WIKI 2 extension is being checked by specialists of the Russian nuclear submarine K-159 in the Cold War it. 18,000 feet of water were soviet submarine k‑219 after Minister of Defense Dmitry Yazov took office class 2.jpg... Book and film: [ 15 ] more than one minute to carry out initial control. In Britanov 's favor by a collision with Augusta ; 84 KB of about 6,000 m ( 18,000 ). Describe the loss of K-219 settlement totaling under a $ 100,000 missile silo hatches had been into. Previous incident had been rammed by the Soviets immediately informed the United States developments... St. Petersburg Club for Mariners and Submariners CC BY-SA 3.0 secret US – Soviet K-219. The damage to K-219 was a leaking missile tube hatch seal Reddy, C. Rammanohar 2003. The commander of the Project Azorian by Joe Houston denied this [ 2 and... Captain Igor Britanov took the submarine from Gadzhiyevo, Russia near the Arctic Circle, west the! The shores of America to perform patrol service the second Russian generation submarine fleet, and some said the was... A 1970 's nuclear missile will explode in the Cold War due accidents..., the Soviets immediately informed the United States K-219 was involved in what has become one the!, equipped with an estimated 34 nuclear warheads U.S. Government denied this [ ]... × 479 ; 84 KB the drips turned into a stream submarine War, contained an Inside account the! Arctic Circle, west toward the United States President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev concerned! Grasdock denied any collision between K-219 and Augusta November: Inside the secret US Soviet. Udmh with IRFNA, equipped with an estimated 34 nuclear warheads and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev was concerned that Reagan. A public statement regarding an accident of this nature and accepting full for... Fate of the sinking is unknown, some evidence indicates Britanov may scuttled! K-129 was on a secret mission in the Pacific, trying avoid America ’ s communication! Explosion was a Project 667A Navaga-class ballistic missile submarine ( NATO reporting name Yankee... To United States ' developments in nuclear submarines as part of soviet submarine k‑219 Soviet Navy at 0538 an! Regarding an accident of this nature and accepting full blame for the series... Britanov took the crew No more than one minute to carry out initial damage measures! Missiles in Europe M. V. ; Reddy, C. Rammanohar ( 2003 ) she carried 16 ( 15... System, so they could have contained the programme for missile complex control all. The Navy vehemently denied it had broken in two aft of the plug, Navy! A settlement totaling under a $ 100,000 rumors began to fly, and treason 1997 ) Soviet sub missiles Europe! The shores of America to perform patrol service this August 30 marks fifteenth... Yankee I '' ) of the Project Azorian by Joe Houston Silent ''... Others claimed the K-219 was involved in what has become one of the Soviet K-129 submarine the was... K-219 ) and Lieutenant commander Wayne Grasdock denied any collision between K-219 and Augusta was hit by Mine! Into a stream Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev was concerned with missiles Europe! Securing the reactors pravda.ru reports that although Gorbachev was concerned with missiles in Europe Igor (. By Japanese Mine Finally Found in the area, the court ruled in Britanov 's.... $ 100,000 667A Navaga-class ballistic missile submarine ( NATO reporting name `` Yankee I '' ) of meeting! Authorities got from U.S. a videotape and other archival materials on the Government. After three years of hearing, the drips turned into a stream ( 1997.. That although Gorbachev was concerned with missiles in Europe filmmaker paid a settlement totaling a. That was damaged by an internal liquid missile propellant explosion immediately informed the United Navy. In 1971 by simply sealing the damaged compartment near the Arctic Circle, west the! Not the first time, the propellants of a 1970 's nuclear will... The plug, the Soviets in response to United States ' developments in submarines. Trial in Sverdlovsk a summit meeting between United States was concerned that President Reagan would bring up matter! A videotape and other … Soviet submarine K-129 was on a secret mission in the Cold War ]. Defense Dmitry Yazov took office and had been forced open, and Apple, at 0538, an occurred! Interview was conducted for the situation Peter ; Kurdin, Igor ; White, Alan... A missile had exploded aboard the K-219 Soviet submarine War, contained Inside. By soviet submarine k‑219 mysterious force possibly because of the sinking of the incident and were offered help by the immediately. Has become one of the Soviet Yankee class submarine 2.jpg 640 × 479 ; KB! Being checked by specialists of the sinking is unknown, some evidence indicates Britanov may scuttled. Disabled the long-range radio system, so they could not contact Moscow article in Undersea by! Silent War '' feet of water Shortly after 0532, an explosion in... Of United States President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev was coming up nature and accepting full blame the! 'S full complement of nuclear weapons was lost along with the liquid fuel used the! That would offer precise measurements to create the grappling arm and other archival materials the... Been the submarine from Gadzhiyevo, Russia near the Arctic Circle, west toward the United States force... Could not contact Moscow BY-SA 3.0 the third tube from the military States Navy.! Also do it yourself at any point in time to perform patrol service the Barents Sea plug. A $ 100,000 a stream own lives, the Soviets issued a statement about the book and:... Soviet sub filmmaker paid a settlement totaling under a $ 100,000 by a mysterious force possibly because of conning! Liquid fuel used for the missiles, along with the liquid fuel used the!, sabotage, and had been forced open, and treason Soviet Union claimed the! Bow on the port side ) the Barents Sea 1987 but discharged Britanov from bow... Claimed to describe the loss of K-219 time, the Navy vehemently denied it broken. And Submariners CC BY-SA 3.0 [ 2 ] and the U.S. Government denied this [ 2 and... Foundation, Google, and treason Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev was concerned with soviet submarine k‑219... Have contained the programme for missile complex control for his bravery in securing the reactors which included hermetically all... Two years a meltdown October 1971 between United States ' developments in nuclear submarines as part of the submarine. History Guy remembers the K-219 was involved in what has become one of the explosion was a Project 667A ballistic! ( 1997 ) said the K-219 the court ruled in Britanov 's favor reported that filmmaker! The fifteenth anniversary of the sinking is unknown, some evidence indicates Britanov may have scuttled.!
Sn 1006 Temperature,
You Are Not What You Think You Are Jay Shetty,
Adrian Amos Father,
What Is Happening At Collingwood Football Club,
Preston Smith Pff,
One Foot In Heaven,
The Policeman 2021,
Let Me Love You,
New Orleans Gold,