Echo Class Submarine - Accidents

Accidents

Submarines of the Echo class were involved in several accidents :

20 June 1970

K-108 (Echo II) collided with submarine USS Tautog (SSN-639) in the Sea of Okhotsk at a depth 45 metres. The outer hull of K-108 was damaged in the area of compartments VIII and IX, and the conning tower of Tautog was damaged and flooded. There were no fatalities.

14 June 1973

K-56 (Echo II) collided with the Soviet large refrigerating trawler "Akademik Berg". The submarine was holed in the bow, and 27 were killed when compartments I and II flooded.

20 August 1973

K-1 (Echo II) struck Hagua Bank (21°35′00″N 80°40′00″W / 21.5833°N 80.6667°W / 21.5833; -80.6667) in the Caribbean Sea at a depth of 120 metres at 16 knots (30 km/h). The bow was significantly damaged.

28 August 1976

K-22 (Echo II) collided with frigate USS Voge (FF-1047) in the Mediterranean Sea (36°02′00″N 20°36′00″E / 36.0333°N 20.6000°E / 36.0333; 20.6000), and both ships were seriously damaged. K-22 had damage to missile container No. 1, extension devices and the fin structure, and went to Kithira in the Aegean Sea for repairs. The American frigate was damaged at the stern, and had to be towed to Crete.

24 September 1976

K-47 (Echo II) while in the North Atlantic a fire broke out in compartment VIII (living quarters) due to short circuit. Three were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning.

2 July 1979

K-116 (Echo II) suffered a reactor accident (a leak of core coolant from the port reactor) in the Bay of Vladimir, Sea of Japan. Some of the crew received a large dose of radiation, but there were no fatalities.

21 August 1980

K-122 (Echo I) had a fire in compartment VII (turbo-electric) when 85 miles (137 km) to the east of Okinawa. Fourteen dead due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

10 September 1981

K-45 (Echo I) collided with Soviet fishing trawler Novokachalinsk at night. The bow of the outer hull and the sonar system of the submarine was seriously damaged. The trawler sank.

18 June 1984

K-131 (Echo II) a fire broke out in compartment VIII due to violation of safety methods by an electrician, while in the Barents Sea. Thirteen dead.

10 August 1985

K-431 (ex-K-31) (Echo II) had a reactor explosion while refueling in the shipyard at Chazhma Bay, Sea of Japan. Ten dead (300 men from rescue parties received various doses of radiation, several died later).

November 1986

K-175 (Echo II), while at its homebase (Pacific Fleet), suffered an explosion in the reactor compartment, causing radioactivity discharge and contamination of nearby territory. No fatalities.

1989

K-1 (Echo II mod) reactor accident.

26 June 1989

K-192 (ex-K-172) (Echo II) had a reactor accident (a break in the first loop of the starboard reactor) while off Bear Island, Barents Sea. The crew received a dose of radiation, but there were no fatalities.