The operation of evacuating submariners

20 October

17.00 RMV was launched to the submarine.

21.10 divers came into pressure chamber.

21 October

14.00 first divers team went down to the sub. All works are conducting by three turns of 12 hours each.

23 October

The developments on the outer hull has been finished. The rubber cover is taken off, the inner hull and accessories in interbody space are cut up, the depressurization of a system of air high-pressure is conducted, the technological opening of 1,2 m in area 8-th compartment is made, radiation is measured.

25 October

15.01 diver has come in 8-th compartment. 5 meters of central are inspected. In the area of the 21st frame the air cushion is found. The bodies of the perished submariners are not found. The hatch to the lower puttings of 8-th compartment is reached. The hatch is closed and fixed. The diver can't open it. The further movement to the direction of 7-th compartment for the diver has appeared impossible because of narrow space. He has changed a direction and moved to the hatch from 8-th to 9-th compartment. The hatch is opened, but not completely, because of springing interference from 9-th compartment.

The upper escape and rescue hatch of 9-th compartment is opened, the hose pipes are got and the suspended matters are pumped out. The diver entered the 9-th compartment and the pass to the aft part is cleaned.

The widow of the submariners - Irina and Oksana arrived to Regalia. On behalf of the widows and the mothers these women presented two cakes with a foxberry to divers and appealed for them to keep personal safety.

October 26

By 00.30 there are found and raised bodies of four submariners.

The slip written in the term between 13.34 and 15.15 August 12 is found. From it contents it became known, that at 12.58 most part of a personnel of 6,7 and 8-th compartments gathered in the 9-th compartment and two - three men would try to escape from the sunk submarine.

The technology of works includes entering the 9-th compartment through the 8-th one, looking for bodies and rising them through the escape and rescue hatch of 9-th compartment. The bodies are placed in technological pods, mount on a surface and are delivered to Severomorsk hospital.

October 29

Mourning ceremony on arriving crew of Kursk from patrol, memorial meeting.

"Remove headgears, kneel, dip battle standards". " Forgive us … Farewell … "

October 30

7 perished submariners are found and raised on surface. 12 bodies of the seamen in total are evacuated.

The activity in bow compartments started.

October 31

The activities in 9-? a compartment are finished. The escape and rescue hatch of a stern compartment and the hatch from 8-th compartment are locked. The special metallic protection is placed on a technological foramen in an outer hull of 9-th compartment.

The preparation for cutting a technological window in an outer hull of 3-rd compartment is started.

November 1

8 submariners are delivered from Regalia to Severomorsk.

The diving activities are transferred to 3-rd compartment as according to the crewlist there are 24 persons and it is more than in the 2-nd compartment. Besides after the explosion the people from 4-? and 5-? compartments, not having the full information on the situation, could take a decision to go in the third compartment, and then to the second compartment, where the emergency rescue saving chamber is located. So, there can be a greatest number of the submariners in the 3-rd compartment.

November 2

The clipping of a technological window in a pressure hull of the third compartment is finished. The piece of a hull is raised upward.

Examination of a compartment by video cameras with telescopic poles started at 07.00.

November 3-5

The visual information on the situation in the 3-rd compartment is obtained after washing with overboard water. In the compartment the large distractions, congestion of the injured reinforcement, cables, pieces of devices and cut-off gears are found, the tracks of runaway of explosion products from the second compartment are captured. The clearing of passes for entering inside the compartment in the given situation is impossible.

There is a decision to cancel every works in the third compartment. The cut-out in the compartment is closed and is made.

The technological window in an outer hull above the fourth compartment is prepared. The piece is raised upward. In a compartment there are cabins of a personnel, ambulatory, galley, mess room, sports hall, sauna. There are 12 submariners in the compartment.

November 7

The diving jobs on the 4-th compartment are completely finished. Due to considerable damages, strong tiltings and pileups inside the compartment the further movement of the divers is unsafe.

In middle of day the final solution on the termination of operation on the evacuation of bodies of the perished submariners is taken. The problem on prolongation of activities in fifth and fifth compartments is not discussed because the personnel of the compartment could be only on the lower deck and it is possible to get there. There is a hatch with the size of 60x60 centimeters, but the minimum size for divers should be 75x5 centimeters.

The first compartment is examined with the help of remote-controlled vehicle. The general examination of the hull and the area of accident are conducted. All technological windows made earlier in the hull are reassured.

Regalia has abandoned region and headed for Norway.

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