A Russian Navy nuclear submarine caught fire for a strange reason

What you need to know: The Russian Navy's safety record has long been questioned, particularly after numerous incidents involving its nuclear submarines. One notable incident was the 2006 fire aboard the Daniil Moskovsky, a Victor III-class attack submarine.

-The fire caused by an electrical short circuit resulted in the death of two crew members from carbon monoxide poisoning. Although the nuclear reactor was safely shut down, the submarine had to be towed back to its port in Vidyayevo. This incident followed other significant maritime accidents, including the tragic Kursk submarine disaster in 2000 and the sinking of the K-159 in 2003.

-Such recurring mishaps underscore ongoing problems in the Russian Navy's security protocols and operations, made more apparent by setbacks during the invasion of Ukraine.

The Daniil Moskovsky Fire of 2006: How an Incident with a Russian Submarine Raised Alarms

The Russian Navy does not have the best safety record. Several incidents have raised questions about the Russian Navy's production and process quality. One such incident was the fire on board the Daniil Moskovsky in 2006.

The Moskovsky, a Victor III-class attack submarine, had nuclear propulsion and could reach top speeds of over 30 knots. The ship first entered service in 1988 as K-414 and was renamed Prince Daniil Moskovsky after the fall of the Soviet Union.

The Moskovsky was about 330 feet long and displaced 7,250 tons when fully submerged. For propulsion, the submarine used a pressurized water twin nuclear reactor VM-4P and two sets of OK-300 steam turbines capable of producing 31,000 horsepower and 23,000 kilowatts of power at 290 shaft revolutions per minute. The submarine could operate for eighty days. The Moskovsky was armed with four bow torpedo tubes and typically carried up to sixteen torpedoes and/or missiles.

“Short circuit” was the cause of the fire

The cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit. The fire broke out while the submarine was traveling in the Barents Sea. Two crew members died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Another crew member was injured. But 93 of the 96 crew members remained unharmed.

“Officials said an on-board protection system shut down the submarine's nuclear reactor and there was no risk of radioactive contamination in the sea,” CBC reported.

After the fire, the Moskovsky had to be towed back to its port in Vidyajevo.

“We did not notify our neighbors because there were enough vessels, especially two rescue tugs, near the incident,” an official said. “We decided not to do anything at sea and instead tow it to its home port where it was launched.”

The incident was not the first security breach for the Russian Navy.

“The Northern Fleet has suffered a number of accidents on its submarines,” Fox News reported. The worst happened in 2000, when the Kursk nuclear submarine sank in the Barents Sea, killing all 118 crew members on board. The sinking occurred after a torpedo misfired, causing a massive explosion.

In 2003, nine members of a 10-person crew died when the K-159 sank while being towed through a storm. The storm tore away one of the submarine's pontoons. In addition to the nine crew members, about 800 kilograms of spent nuclear fuel were also lost, raising concerns in the international community about the Russian Navy's safety standards.

The Russian Navy and submarines still have problems

Russian forces were underwhelmed during the nearly three-year invasion of Ukraine. Tanks and planes fought for survival. The Russian Navy also suffered some high-profile setbacks, most notably the sinking of the Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. In one week last month, Russia reportedly suffered ten thousand casualties.

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 articles on global issues. A lawyer, pilot, guitarist and minor professional hockey player, Harrison entered the United States Air Force as an apprentice pilot but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

Image source: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock of various Russian submarines.