description K-141 Kursk Overview
K-141 Kursk was a Russian Navy Oscar II-class nuclear-powered cruise-missile submarine. It sank in the Barents Sea on 12 August 2000 after explosions involving its torpedoes during a naval exercise, killing all 118 people aboard. The wreck was later raised in a major salvage operation, while its damaged bow section was left on the seabed.
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K-141 Kursk ranks #18 of 186 in the Shipwreck ranking, behind MV Goya, ahead of Batavia.
help K-141 Kursk FAQ
What caused the K-141 Kursk submarine to sink?
Kursk sank after an explosion in its forward torpedo compartment during a Russian Navy exercise in the Barents Sea. Investigators concluded that leaking hydrogen peroxide fuel from a torpedo triggered the initial blast and a much larger secondary explosion.
Did anyone survive the initial explosions aboard Kursk?
Evidence showed that 23 crew members survived the explosions and gathered in the ninth compartment. None survived until rescuers reached the submarine, and all 118 people aboard died.
Why was the rescue of the Kursk crew unsuccessful?
Russian rescue teams struggled to attach diving vehicles to the submarine's escape hatch, while severe weather and equipment problems consumed critical time. Foreign assistance was accepted only after a delay, and Norwegian divers eventually opened the hatch after determining that the compartment was flooded.
How was the wreck of K-141 Kursk recovered?
Most of Kursk was raised from the Barents Sea in 2001 through an operation led by the Dutch companies Mammoet and Smit International. The badly damaged bow was cut away and left on the seabed before the remaining hull was lifted beneath the barge Giant 4.
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