Although the book Hostile Waters, published in 1997, is based on the true story of K-219, this article is a more accurate technical representation of what took place – it leaves out the “Hollywood” aspects and describes the heroic efforts of a crew attempting to save a submarine....

Captain Britanov states that in the eyes of his government, there were no heroes on K-219. When asked the number of times he is called to be a guest lecturer at Russian functions, he simply states, “None – I do not tell the story the way my government wants me to tell it. I did not collide with an American sub.”

Here's a fun article by a British author describing his recently purchased Russian submarine escape suit.  The suit, model IDA59, is a 1960's vintage bit of equipment which is free of electronics and has a depth limitation of 300meters.  Interestingly, it uses a highly reactive scrubber compound known as '03' which when combined with water it will dissolve glass! 

This suit was worn by officers escaping from the Soviet submarine Komsomolets after the boat caught fire and sank.  One note is that the author describes this suit as used in the deepest ever ascent from a submarine.  I'd add that the sailors were in an escape pod and I believe were not at ambient pressure during the ascent to the surface. 

The author describes the suit and rebreather and does a couple of test dives but doesn't give much detail on how it went.

I wish I could post a photo of this suit, but just go to the first link here to read the whole review and see some photos of the author testing it.

Divernet article - Russian rebreather suit

Komsomolets submarine - Federation of American Scientists  description of submarine, the accident and wreck status with photos

	Running Critical: The Silent War, Rickover, and General Dynamics ASIN: 0060153776 Binding: Hardcover List price: $19.95 USD

This book chronicles the political and corporate history of the 688 class nuclear attack submarine.  There is much insight into the methods and manner of Admiral Rickover and also a lot of material on the corporate goings-on at Electric Boat during the construction of these boats.  At the same time the Trident program was starting so it was a hectic era of sub construction in the USA.

The K-159 was an aging Russian nuclear submarine that had been decommisioned in 1989.  While under tow to a dismantlement yard it sank, killing 9 of 10 crew aboard.  The boat now lies in 240m of water near Kildin Island in the Barents Sea.  Some information on the stalled salvage work and how radioactive leaks may occur. 

  Bellona article...

- larger image -	Dark Waters: An Insider's Account of the NR-1, the Cold War's Undercover Nuclear Sub ASIN: 0451207777 Binding: Hardcover List price: $24.95 USD

Very entertaining history of the capable, unique NR-1, the only nuclear submersible yet built.  The coauthors include journalist Don Davis and member of the first crew, Lee Vyborny.  Mr. Vyborny tells some excellent stories from the years he spent during the NR-1's design, construction and early operating career.  After Vyborny leaves the crew the boat's history is told in third person but the stories are no less interesting.  For example, the interactions with Rickover are somehow written to be more amusing than irritating!

This book is similar to Blind Man's Bluff in its handling of covert cold war operations by the US Navy but the first person stories told by Lee Vyborny really pull the reader in and are very engaging.

Category: cold war nuclear submersible

Boats: NR-1

Heroes: NR-1 crew and, for getting it built, Admiral Rickover

Technical content: average

This website tracks, among other things, accidents and incidents occurring with the Russian Northern Fleet.  Bellona.com covers a number of environmental issues.  Here's the section on decommisioning nuclear submarines.  As of this posting there was a fire and explosion that killed one person while a Victor II class boat was being cut up.  The two reactors had apparently already been removed. Bellona website

Article with some insight into life aboard a boomer, published back in 1988 in Harpers magazine.  The author spent some time aboard the USS Florida which was the third Ohio class, or Trident, boats.  Some info on silencing.

Web article...