Photo N°1 : Believed to be Vidyaevo (Russia) but not 100% sure. the "Oscar II" class is also known as "Antey" class
Intended for strikes against US surface forces, especially carriers. The Pacific Fleet units of this class remain relatively active and routinely deployed.
The Kursk was lost in the Barents Sea on 12/08/'00, salvaged 08/10/'01. There was an explosion while preparing to fire a torpedo.
The only credible report to date is that this was due to the failure and explosion of one of the Kursk's hydrogen peroxide-fueled torpedoes.
Though the British and Norwegian navies offered assistance, Russia initially refused all help
23 out of 118 souls onboard survived the initial blast, but by the time a rescue sub docked on the Kursk it was already to late for them.
Salvaged in 2001 excluding the bow and towed to Sayda Bay on Russia's northern Kola Peninsula |