SSGN Kursk, Post-Soviet Tragedy

[Taz]

Although the "KURSK" sinking, being more recent remains clear in everybodys memory it was not the first and unfortunatly probably not the last tragic Submarine accident.
On a spring morning in 1989 another tragedy occured.
Here is a short account of events from the Bellona site.

'Golden Fish'

Komsomolets, called the 'Golden Fish' among the Northern Fleet's officers, was the only submarine of the Mike class. It was one of the most advanced submarines in the navy because of its ability to dive nearly twice as deep as most.
Cruising submerged at 1000 meters it could elude NATO anti-submarine systems and bring its two nuclear warheads right up to North America's eastern seaboard.

But the ill-fated Komsomolets was never allowed to fulfil its promise.

In April, 1989, the nuclear submarine K-278, Komsomolets, (Project 685 - Mike class) sank in the Norwegian Sea.
Komsomolets was a unique titanium-hulled submarine that could dive to depths of 1000 metres.
On the morning of April 7, 1989, the vessel was on the way back to her base at Zapadnaya Litsa, positioned at a depth of 160m approximately 180km south of Bear Island. At 11:03 the alarm sounded due to a fire in the seventh compartment. Eleven minutes after the fire had broken out, the vessel surfaced. However, the fire had caused short circuits in the electrical system which set off the reactor's emergency systems. The fire was so fierce that a leak was sprung in the compressed air system, and this led in turn to a spreading of the fire. Attempts by the crew to extinguish the flames were futile.
The submarine lost power, and finally ran out of compressed air. By 17:00, the leak had worsened, and the submarine lost buoyancy and stability. The crew began to be evacuated into life rafts, but there were not enough rafts. The life rafts that were lowered were too far away for the crew to reach. At 17:08, the submarine sank at a depth of 1685 meters, with a loss of 41 lives and her commander. The ship Aleksandr Khlobystsov which came to the rescue after 81 minutes took aboard 25 survivors and 5 fatalities. The exact cause of the fire is unknown. One speculation is that the concentration of oxygen in the seventh compartment was too high, setting off short circuits in the electrical system.

The nuclear submarine Komsomolets sank in the Norwegian Sea on April 7, 1989, south of Bear Island. The submarine sank with its reactor and two nuclear warheads on board, and lies at a depth of 1 685 metres.

It has also been asserted that shortly before the accident, the vessel had completed a test that indicated it was not seaworthy. Others claim that K-278's crew was not qualified to serve on the Komsomolets.

Here is the Memorial Badge for the K-278

Eddie.

[Taz]

Originally Posted by Taz

This is the normal Commemerative Badge for the K-141 "KURSK" as exists for other Submarines.

Eddie.

Here is the same sort of badge for one of the sister subs of the "Kursk".
The Oskar II, K-148, "Krasnodar".

Eddie.

[Taz]

Originally Posted by d-riemer

This national tragedy resulted in medals and several high-quality badges. Does anybody know who issued the various awards and for what specific occasions?

The bottom row of Badges were or are issued by the State mint of ST. Petersburg.

The badge commemorating the salvage operation that was conducted jointly with Norway was a limited issue and no longer made.

The badge for the relatives of the Crew members who lost their lives in the
tragedy was also limited and is no longer made.

The badge for the participants of the Lifting of the "Kursk" is a rare issue.

Here are the reverses of the badges.

Eddie.

[Taz]

Guys,
please excuse the bad pic, it's from e...

It has a starting price of €1,000!

I haven't seen this one before and I was wondering if anybody has any further info on it.

here is the sellers description :

Sie bieten hier auf 1 Original Taucherorden zur Rettung der Kurskbesatzung.

Bevor die Norweger zum Verunglückten U-boot der Kursk getaucht sind,hat die Russische Marine zuerst eine Rettungsmission unternommen .Lief unter den Namen Operation Barentsee.

Inschrift des Ordens:Für die Taucher der Rettungsmission Kursk im Oktober 2000 Operation Barentsee!

Laut Intensiver Recherchen beträgt die Ausgabe höchstens 15 Exemplare!

translated from german:

You are bidding here on an original Divers Order for the saving of the Kursk crew.

Before the Norwegens dived to the stricken Kursk, the Russian Navy had started their own rescue mission which was called Operation Barentsea!

Inscription on the Order: For the Divers of the rescue mission Kursk in October 2000 Operation Barentsea!

After intensive research this Order was awarded, at the most 15 times!

Eddie.

[greenuniform]

STP61536_opt.jpg

STP61548_opt.jpg

This is the medal with the blue ribbon, sorry about the photos, all this is new to me, the ribbon is a darker more cornflower blue and the medal is in two piece ( the diver being seperate. It is a pin on medal. I accuired from a good friend and have owned it for I think 8 years. Maybe you can help me with any more information on it. Thank you

[greenuniform]

STP61537_opt.jpg

Sorry this is also another Kursk badge which should be included I think it is a relatively new and has a screw on back.