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Deadly Arctic Submarine Blaze Casts Light on Russia's Underwater Intel
Service

Jamie Dettmer

   The blaze on board a nuclear-powered Russian deep-diving submersible
   that killed 14 elite crewmen last week has cast some light on Russia's
   top secret underwater intelligence service as well as its growing focus
   on the resource-rich polar region.

   The Russian navy officers who died in the fire July 2 while the
   super-secret submarine was in the Arctic Ocean were buried Saturday in
   St. Petersburg. Authorities still have not disclosed what triggered the
   blaze on the Losharik, an AS-12 nuclear-powered spy submarine, and the
   pride of Russia's deepwater intelligence gathering program.

   The 60- to 70-meter long vessel was launched in 2003 with the capacity
   to dive 6,000 meters. This particular sub was in Russian territorial
   waters when the fire started. Norwegian fishermen told local media they
   saw the vessel surface abruptly near Ura Bay, about 100 kilometers east
   of the Norwegian border -- along with men rushing around the deck, but
   did not spot any smoke. Russia's TASS news agency reported that crew
   members died because they inhaled toxic fumes.

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