K-19

Laurent · 02-02-2006, 05:55 AM

Those of you who are interested in Soviet maritime history, especially submarines, may have seen the excellent movie with H. Ford about the story of the K-19.

Here is something which could be of some interest...

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has suggested nominating the crew of the Soviet K-19 nuclear sub for Nobel Peace Prize. In 1964 the crew fixed the nuclear reactor aboard the sub, averting a major environmental catastrophe and a possible World War III.

Gorbachev has filed the corresponding petition with the Nobel Committee, Interfax reported.

K-19 suffered a nuclear reactor breakdown in July 1964 in the Norwegian Sea, near a NATO base. When a catastrophe seemed inevitable, the mechanics managed to construct an extra pipeline and fill it with reserve drinking water, cooling the reactor down to normal temperature.

After working for hours in extreme heat and radiation levels, eight of the team died within weeks.

“These heroic sailors averted the explosion of the nuclear reactor that would have caused a major environmental catastrophe — the explosion would have been much more powerful that that at the Chernobyl Power Plant, and would have cause much more damage,” Gorbachev said in a letter to the Nobel Committee.

Moreover, Gorbachev argued, the K-19 crew averted not just an environmental catastrophe, but quite possibly a third world war.

“The incident took place during the Cold War, with Soviet and American ships and nuclear subs constantly on alert.

”An explosion on the K-19 could have easily been seen as a Soviet military provocation, an attempt to target the North American coastline. This would have brought an adequate response from the U.S. and NATO, sparkling a third world war,“ he said.

However, the sailors were never rewarded for what they did, Gorbachev added.

”Until 1990 the incident was kept secret. Nobody knew about it, none of the sailors who later died in terrible pain were rewarded by the state. They were even buried secretly, in special lead coffins, and their relatives were not told where their graves were.“

56 of the 139 K-19 crew are still living.

”Everyone who was on board the sub that day, everyone who did their job as usual, deserves to be recognized by society as people who did their best to preserve peace on earth. Awarding these people a Nobel Peace Prize would be an adequate reward for their unique heroic deed,“ Gorbachev concluded.

roy · 02-02-2006, 04:24 PM

Very interesting thread, thank you for posting!

I sincerely hope that the survivors of K-19 will be honored with this award. I've seen the movie, (enjoyed it very much) and have read the companion book that documents the story of real K-19, it's crew and captain. If anyone has not yet read it, I would recommend it, it is very good. It's called "K-19 The Widowmaker" by Peter Huchthausen, Capt. USN Ret.

rboomsma · 02-02-2006, 04:30 PM

It is a very good movie of some very brave and heroic men.
They deserve to recognized for what they did. Lets hope the Russian Government does the right thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roy

Very interesting thread, thank you for posting!

I sincerely hope that the survivors of K-19 will be honored with this award. I've seen the movie, (enjoyed it very much) and have read the companion book that documents the story of real K-19, it's crew and captain. If anyone has not yet read it, I would recommend it, it is very good. It's called "K-19 The Widowmaker" by Peter Huchthausen, Capt. USN Ret.

redmedals · 02-04-2006, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rboomsma

It is a very good movie of some very brave and heroic men.
They deserve to recognized for what they did. Lets hope the Russian Government does the right thing.

Some sort of recognition from the Russian Government would be the correct thing to do.

clebercalado · 02-09-2006, 01:09 PM

I saw a documentarie from History Channel: The Real History of K-19, that shows the Captain of K-19 recieving the Order of the Red Banner for his actions.

Laurent · 04-07-2006, 02:29 AM

According to a russian newspaper, Captain Nikolai Batarev has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing an explosion which could have started a nuclear war in 1961.

alnigi · 04-07-2006, 04:57 AM

thi is not end of the story
K-19 collided with USS Gato in the Barents Sea in1969
in1978 a fire broke out on board 28 sailors died in the fire.
K-19 was again repaired and returned to the fleet.
and The submarine was decommissioned in 1991

Rodion · 04-07-2006, 02:38 PM

Here are two photos of the accident of 1972.

02-02-2006, 05:55 AM	#1
Laurent Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 366	Those of you who are interested in Soviet maritime history, especially submarines, may have seen the excellent movie with H. Ford about the story of the K-19. Here is something which could be of some interest... Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has suggested nominating the crew of the Soviet K-19 nuclear sub for Nobel Peace Prize. In 1964 the crew fixed the nuclear reactor aboard the sub, averting a major environmental catastrophe and a possible World War III. Gorbachev has filed the corresponding petition with the Nobel Committee, Interfax reported. K-19 suffered a nuclear reactor breakdown in July 1964 in the Norwegian Sea, near a NATO base. When a catastrophe seemed inevitable, the mechanics managed to construct an extra pipeline and fill it with reserve drinking water, cooling the reactor down to normal temperature. After working for hours in extreme heat and radiation levels, eight of the team died within weeks. “These heroic sailors averted the explosion of the nuclear reactor that would have caused a major environmental catastrophe — the explosion would have been much more powerful that that at the Chernobyl Power Plant, and would have cause much more damage,” Gorbachev said in a letter to the Nobel Committee. Moreover, Gorbachev argued, the K-19 crew averted not just an environmental catastrophe, but quite possibly a third world war. “The incident took place during the Cold War, with Soviet and American ships and nuclear subs constantly on alert. ”An explosion on the K-19 could have easily been seen as a Soviet military provocation, an attempt to target the North American coastline. This would have brought an adequate response from the U.S. and NATO, sparkling a third world war,“ he said. However, the sailors were never rewarded for what they did, Gorbachev added. ”Until 1990 the incident was kept secret. Nobody knew about it, none of the sailors who later died in terrible pain were rewarded by the state. They were even buried secretly, in special lead coffins, and their relatives were not told where their graves were.“ 56 of the 139 K-19 crew are still living. ”Everyone who was on board the sub that day, everyone who did their job as usual, deserves to be recognized by society as people who did their best to preserve peace on earth. Awarding these people a Nobel Peace Prize would be an adequate reward for their unique heroic deed,“ Gorbachev concluded. __________________ "The man who has no sense of History, is like a man who has no ears and no eyes..."

02-09-2006, 01:09 PM	#5
clebercalado Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Brazil Age: 44 Posts: 87	Order of the Red banner I saw a documentarie from History Channel: The Real History of K-19, that shows the Captain of K-19 recieving the Order of the Red Banner for his actions. __________________ AMATEUR COLLECTOR FROM BRAZIL

04-07-2006, 02:29 AM	#6
Laurent Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 366	According to a russian newspaper, Captain Nikolai Batarev has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing an explosion which could have started a nuclear war in 1961. __________________ "The man who has no sense of History, is like a man who has no ears and no eyes..."

04-07-2006, 04:57 AM	#7
alnigi New Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Malbourne Posts: 14	k-19 thi is not end of the story K-19 collided with USS Gato in the Barents Sea in1969 in1978 a fire broke out on board 28 sailors died in the fire. K-19 was again repaired and returned to the fleet. and The submarine was decommissioned in 1991

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02-02-2006, 04:24 PM	#2
roy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Benton, Tennessee Age: 51 Posts: 99	Very interesting thread, thank you for posting! I sincerely hope that the survivors of K-19 will be honored with this award. I've seen the movie, (enjoyed it very much) and have read the companion book that documents the story of real K-19, it's crew and captain. If anyone has not yet read it, I would recommend it, it is very good. It's called "K-19 The Widowmaker" by Peter Huchthausen, Capt. USN Ret.

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