Komsomolets Wreck
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Wreck Category | non-dangerous wreck |
|
Komsomolets Wreck Location Marine Coordinates (DMM) |
73 43.277 N,13 18.129 E |
| Latitude, Longitude Decimal Degrees |
|
| Wreck Depth | 1001 m |
| Water Depth | 1650 m |
| Water Level Effect | always under water/submerged |
| Vertical Datum | Lowest Astronomical Tide |
| Name | KOMSOMOLETS |
| Type | submarine |
| Length | 110 m |
| Width | 11.9 m |
| Draught | 9.1 |
| Tonnage | 9700 |
| Tonnage Type | displacement |
| Conspic Visual | not visually conspicuous |
| Conspic Radar | not radar conspicuous |
| Date Sunk | Apr 7, 1989 |
| Original Detection Year | 1989 |
| Last Detection Year | 2014 |
| Original Source | Lloyd's and Marine Underwriter's reports |
| Surveying Details | HH312/350/01 28.4.89 REPORTED SUNK ABOUT 100 MILES SW OF BEAR ISLAND IN GEN DEPTH 1600MTRS. (LL 10, 12.4.89). REPORTED 118 MILES SW OF BEAR ISLAND IN ABOUT 2000MTRS. (T HANLAN, OCEAN RESEARCH, TELECON 18.4.89). POSN 730000N, 140000E FOR FILING ONLY. HH312/350/01 7.6.89 SUNK IN 734400N, 131800E IN 1570MTRS. SHIPPING ACTIVITY EXPECTED IN THIS AREA. NORWEGIAN AUTHORITIES CONSIDER THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE DANGER FROM RADIO-ACTIVE RADIATION FROM THIS WK. (NOR NM 626/89). HH312/350/01 30.6.89 DUTCH SALVAGE COMPANY, SMIT TAK, AND CHEMICAL FIRM, AKZO NV, INVOLVED IN ATTEMPT TO SALVAGE THIS WK. (LL 16.6.89). HH312/350/01 11.6.90 DUTCH SALVAGE CONSORTIUM, LED BY SMIT TAK, EXPECTED TO CARRY OUT FEASIBILITY STUDY INTO THE RAISING OF THIS SUBMARINE. (LL 18.5.90). HH312/350/10 10.4.91 WK LIES ON EVEN KEEL IN DEEP MUD AT DEPTH OF OVER 3000MTRS. CONTRACT SIGNED TO RAISE WK IN MID-1992. COST OF OPERATION TO BE PARTIALLY OFFSET BY VALUE OF VESSEL'S TITANIUM HULL. (LL 18.3.91). HH312/350/01 1.5.91 REFERRED TO AS NUCLEAR SUBMARINE KOMSOMOLETS. SALVAGE NOW DUE TO START IN 1993. (LL 20.4.91). HH312/350/01 6.12.91 WK HAS NOW STARTED TO LEAK RADIOACTIVE FUEL THROUGH HOLE IN REACTOR TANK AND FROM URANIUM FUEL ITSELF. CURRENTLY THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS BUT LEAK WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE IN TIME AND THE RISKS FROM IT WILL INCREASE IF ANY SALVAGE ATTEMPT IS MADE. WK LIES AT A DEPTH OF 1685MTRS AND CARRIES TWO NUCLEAR-TIPPED TORPEDOES. (LL 25.11.91). HH312/350/01 7.4.92 LIES IN 734329.5N, 131606.5E WITH LEAST DEPTH OF 1677MTRS. (NOR NM 419/92). HH312/350/01 13.5.92 HH312/350/01 13.5.92 ALLEGED THAT A VIDEO OF THE HULL OF THE SUBMARINE KONSOMOLETS SHOWS THAT IT IS MORE DAMAGED THAN PREVOUSLY THOUGHT - HAVING BEEN BUCKLED DUE TO THE PRESSURE AT THE DEPTH IN WHICH IT IS LYING. (THE MAIL ON SUNDAY, 3.5.92). 02.12.92 LL REPORT AND PHOTOGRAPHS HELD IN PRESS ARTICLES BRANCH FOLDER. HH313/400/01 9.3.93 A PLAN TO SEAL OFF THE SUBMARINE'S ATOMIC REACTOR AND TORPEDOES WITH A SPECIAL FOAM WHICH WILL ABSORB ANY RADIATION LEAK IS NOW BEING PUT FORWARD BY RUSSIAN EXPERTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE FORMER PLAN TO RAISE THE VESSEL. (LL 26.1.93). 16.2.93 EXPEDITION TO MONITOR SEAS AROUND THIS WK FOUND NO RADIATION LEAKS. (LL 15.2.93). HH313/400/01 28.9.93 OPERATION TO SEAL FOR'D SECTION OF SUBMARINE AND/OR RECOVER NUCLEAR TORPEDOES SHOULD TAKE PLACE DURING SUMMER OF 1994. (LL 18.9.93). HH313/400/01 6.6.94 PLAN TO PRESSURISE THE FWD PART OF THE SUBMARINE TO CONTROL POSSIBLE LEAKAGES FROM THE SUBMARINE'S TWO NUCLEAR TORPEDOES. EACH TORPEDO IS ESTIMATED TO BE CARRYING 3,200 GRAMS OF PLUTONIUM. WORK TO COMMENCE 15 JUNE 1994. (LL 1.6.94). HH312/350/01 7.4.92 INS NDW IN 734329.5N, 131606.5E ON 2228,4100 - NM 1228/92. |
| Last Amended Date | Nov 28, 2019 |
Circumstances of loss
UNIQUE EXPERIMENTAL NUCLEAR SUBMARINE - POSSIBLY WITH TITANIUM HULL - SANK FOLLOWING AN INTERNAL EXPLOSION AND FIRE. STANDARD PROCEDURE TO SHUT DOWN NUCLEAR REACTOR REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT PRIOR TO EVACUATION BY CREW. (LL).
WRECK MAP LOADING ...
73 43.277 N,13 18.129 E
Komsomolets on Wreck Map
Komsomolets Wreck on Google Map