K-8 (submarine). The death of the nuclear submarine K-8

One of the most difficult and dangerous military specialties is the profession of a submariner. For decades, the Soviet Union ignored the tragedies on the submarines, which caused human casualties. The situation changed in 1989, when the whole country shuddered at the news of the accident on the submarine Komsomolets. Then they started talking about other disasters, including the circumstances under which the submarine K 8 died.

Characteristics

K-8 is a submarine of the Soviet Navy with an atomic reactor, which was created as part of the project 627 A "Kit". Its construction began in 1957, and in the summer of 1960 the new submarine was enlisted in the Northern Fleet. K-8 (submarine) had the following technical characteristics:

• Length - 1074 cm;
• Width - 796 cm;
• Depth of immersion - 300 m;
• Speed under water - 30 knots;
• The average sediment is 565 cm;
• Above-water speed is 15.5 knots.

First accidents

After the K-8 (submarine) was adopted by the Soviet Navy, the first unforeseen situation was fixed on it: the pipe of the cooling circuit broke with subsequent leakage of the coolant and a strong release of radioactive gas. As a result, a part of the crew received fairly significant radiation doses, while three sailors had signs characteristic of acute radiation sickness. Similar incidents occurred also on June 1 and October 8, 1961, so the fleet began to say that the K-8 was a submarine whose service was life-threatening.

Events that preceded the disaster

In the period from the beginning of August 1966 to July 1968, the nuclear submarine K-8 was at the well-known shipyard Zvezdochka, where it was overhauled. In addition, in May 1969, the commander of the ship was appointed experienced submariner VB. Bessonov, who immediately won the respect of the crew. Thus, it seemed that soon K-8 (submarine) would be able to restore its reputation, and it will no longer be called "damned".

Mediterranean trekking

At night on February 17, 1970 K-8 (submarine), whose crew had good professional training, left the base in Gremikha in its first and last long-term autonomous voyage. The submarine was ordered to go to the North Atlantic and take part in the largest exercises in the history of the Soviet Navy under the name "Ocean-70". Their beginning was scheduled for April 14, and the final coincided with the celebration of the centennial jubilee of VI. Lenin.

8 April

The death of the submarine K-8 occurred in the waters of the Bay of Biscay. At that time, it was not far from the Azores, and nothing boded ill. On April 8, when a surfaced from a depth of 160 m in the cabin of hydroacoustics K-8, where a power cable runs through the submarine, a fire broke out. At the same time, the commander was informed of the fire that occurred in the 7th compartment. The crew immediately began the struggle for life, and after 5 minutes the submarine was in a surface position. The situation was complicated by the fact that the fire began to spread very quickly over the submarine through air ducts. At this point, the officers V. Khaslavsky, A. Chudinov, G. Chugunov and G. Shostakovsky, who were in the 7th compartment covered by the fire, made a real feat: realizing that they are doomed to destruction, the sailors have closed the hatch and prevented a thermal explosion. In addition, they managed to stop the nuclear reactor.

9 April

After midnight, a part of the crew climbed to the bridge through the central post. At 2 o'clock in the morning the seamen with great difficulty removed the hatch of the 8th compartment, withdrew 4 people and carried 15 corpses. The cause of death was a strong smoke and lack of protection. Also managed to save 19 crew members from the 4th compartment. While the boat was afloat, the sailors continued their struggle for life.

After noon the excitement of the sea increased, and the submarine began to give a roll. To counteract this situation, the main ballast tanks were purged, but it did not give positive results.

Later, 43 crew members were evacuated for transport, and the remaining ones were placed in the first two compartments and on the bridge.

Salvation and loss

Most of the personnel of the K-8 was taken out on the ship "Avior", owned by Bulgaria. In the conditions of a strong storm, part of the crew continued the struggle to save the ship, but the submarine still sank. The death of the nuclear submarine K-8 was the first major loss of the domestic nuclear fleet. A total of 52 crew members died, and the submarine itself remained forever at 490 km from the coast of Spain at a depth of 4680 m.

Investigation

To clarify the circumstances of the ship's death in Severomorsk immediately began to work government commission. There, the members of the crew were brought to the mother ship "Volga". A few days later they were offered to lose the whole course of events that took place on April 8-9 onboard the K-181 submarine, which is an exact copy of the K-8. This investigative action made it possible to establish that the command of the submarine and its crew in an emergency situation behaved exceptionally professionally and competently.

By a governmental decree, the lost captain of the submarine V.B. Bessonov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and all other midshipmen and officers were awarded the Order of the Red Star. As for the sailors, the dead and the survivors were presented to Ushakov's medals.

Memory

As was customary in Soviet times, the K-8 accident did not receive much publicity. However, two streets in the city of Gremikha were renamed in honor of the commander of the submarine and ship's doctor Yu. Ilchenko. The latter sacrificed his life, ceding his breathing apparatus to one of the operated crew members, who was in the infirmary at the time of the accident.

Four years after the accident, a monument was erected in the same town. On it you can see the members of the crew K-8 (submarine), the list of the dead and the inscription "sailors-submariners, who died in combat posts, completely fulfilled their duty."

Now you know how one of the first nuclear submarines of the Russian fleet died, and what caused this catastrophe.