Russian Deep-Sea Vessel Stuck, Trapping 7

[Fly Navy]

Learned from the Kursk to ask for our help, did they?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,164821,00.html

Russian Deep-Sea Vessel Stuck, Trapping 7

Friday, August 05, 2005

FOX News

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia — The fate of seven Russian sailors trapped in a mini-submarine that's stuck on the Pacific floor may depend on a U.S. Navy unmanned, remote-controlled vehicle.

The Russian sub's propeller became entangled in a fishing net Thursday, and the craft is stuck 625 feet below the surface, Russian navy Capt. Igor Dygalo said on state-run Rossiya television (search).

"There is air remaining on the underwater apparatus for a day — one day," he said at about 6 a.m. EDT. "The operation continues. We have a day, and intensive, active measures will be taken to rescue the AS-28 vessel and the people aboard."

The accident occurred in Beryozovaya Bay (search), approximately 100 miles south of Kamchatka's capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, officials said.

Russia appealed to the United States and Japan for assistance, the Interfax news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Boris Malakhov as saying.

At least one robotic rescue vehicle from San Diego will be shipped on a plane Friday to Russia to help save the submarine. The unmanned vehicle, called a Super Scorpio (search), can reach depths of up to 5,000 feet and is equipped with high-powered lights, sonar and video cameras, said Capt. Matt Brown, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet in Honolulu.

John Dalton, a former secretary of the U.S. Navy, told FOX News that the Navy is doing what sailors have done for centuries when other sailors are in trouble — race to help. But unlike sailors from the past, today they have access to high-tech tools.

"The Super Scorpio is a remotely operated vehicle ... It's got two manipulators that are capable of lifting 250 pounds each so it has the ability to assist in this situation if it can get there in time," Dalton said.

The Super Scorpio, which weighs about 4,500 pounds, has been used to conduct underwater surveys and inspections.

About 30 people will accompany the vehicle to Russia, Brown said.

"We are working as fast as we can to make this happen," he said.

Russian Navy Pacific Fleet spokesman Capt. Alexander Kosolapov said contact had been made with the sailors, who were not hurt, and authorities were preparing to send down a similar vessel to assess the situation.

Dygalo also said Britain was providing "rescue means," but he did not specify what those were.

The mini-sub, called an AS-28, was too deep to allow the sailors to swim to the surface on their own or for divers to reach it, officials said.

The accident occurred early Thursday after the mini-submarine was launched from a rescue ship during a combat training exercise, Kosolapov said.

Two surface ships were sweeping the area with nets in the hope of wresting the trapped vessel from the sea floor, adding that the rescue effort would continue into the night, Dygalo said.

Brown said the Russian military has indicated that the submarine may have been fouled by fishing nets or steel cables. The vehicle does have an instrument that can cut steel cables, he said.

At Moscow's request, Japan dispatched a vessel carrying submarine rescue gear and three other ships to join salvage efforts, but they weren't expected to arrive at the scene until early next week, Marine Self Defense Force spokesman Hidetsubu Iwamasa said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

[gagirl]

The Kursk is the 1st thing I thought of. I'm glad they're asking and I pray for those 7 we can help save them. I couldn't imagine being in that situation.

 

[Fly Navy]

Funny thing about Kursk is, we were involved with helping them at the later stages. They got a Norweigan company to help them... well, that Norwegian company happened to be connected to the US... guess who was on those mini-subs? USA. They didn't want to lose face asking for us to help publicly. Guess they learned the hard way on that one.

 

[gagirl]

I didn't know about all the behind the scenes details. I just remember them saying they didn't want our help and then all of them dying. I hope we can help save them this time.

 

[A4sForever]

My, my, my .... how times change. Not too long ago we trained to kill Russian sailors and they tried to do it to us many, many times.

And now U.S. Navy sailors will put their lives at risk to save Russian sailors?? .... Kind of makes me wonder what all the "fuss" of the past 50 years was about???

 

[Fly Navy]

My, my, my .... how times change. Not too long ago we trained to kill Russian sailors and they tried to do it to us many, many times.

And now U.S. Navy sailors will put their lives at risk to save Russian sailors?? .... Kind of makes me wonder what all the "fuss" of the past 50 years was about???

If the hardliners there ever get their way again, who knows, maybe the festivities can continue.

Btw, I read that China and the Russians are going to do joint wargames. Interesting.

 

[BrandonJ1780]

yeah, what do you make of those russian/chinese exercises? i tell you what, i can see china following some of the same playbook japan used in the run-up to ww2. the atlantic monthly had a great article maybe an issue or so back, quoted a Navy officer voicing his concerns about us playing in the 'pond' of the middle east while china tried to catch us in the oceans--with their new ships, albeit with stolen technology, and their port-building frenzy all over the globe. just wanted to throw that out there, see what you all thought...i do hope we get those russian sailors, terrible situation...

 

[Fly Navy]

Just remember, the Chinese are active in Mexico.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

We get a weekly intel brief here at SWOS. China has some stuff that makes me nervous....and they are actively aquiring more.

 

[Fly Navy]

We get a weekly intel brief here at SWOS. China has some stuff that makes me nervous....and they are actively aquiring more.

I definitely believe that.

Are they present at the Panama Canal?

 

[A4sForever]

..... China has some stuff that makes me nervous....and they are actively aquiring more.

Really??? Amusing ..... as I remember not too long ago some on this forum poo-poo'ing the coming ChiCom threat ..... (present company excluded)

Time to go squeeze some limes ..... :icon_rast

 

[Fly Navy]

Really??? I remember not too long ago some on this forum poo-poo'ing the coming ChiCom threat ..... (present company excluded)

Too many people think the talking heads and Clinton were right... that the Chinese are our "friends".

 

[A4sForever]

Too many people think ... that the Chinese are our "friends".

Kung Pao chicken notwithstanding ..... They ain't .....

 

[Fly Navy]

Kung Pao chicken notwithstanding ..... They :icon_smilain't .....

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Really??? Amusing ..... as I remember not too long ago some on this forum poo-poo'ing the coming ChiCom threat ..... (present company excluded)

Time to go squeeze some limes ..... :icon_rast

You're welcome to search the archives. You won't see me "poo-poo'ing" the ChiCom threat anywhere. I've been telling my wife since about '96 (before we were married) to standby for those sneaky bastards.