It's so cold that the sweat and tears of your terrified shipmates turns to slick frost on bare metal. Kursk rapidly is becoming a steel coffin for its crew of 118, if they haven't already perished, veteran submariners say. The deep is unforgiving. It must be terrifically damp, dark and cold,'' said Steve Collier of Bath, Ohio, a retired U.S. Navy master chief petty officer who served on three submarines from 1973-93. The Kursk is lying on awkwardly on its side in strong currents and swirling muck, frustrating repeated rescue efforts.
Russian officials say the bow probably was damaged by an explosion, perhaps in a torpedo bay.
Several compartments flooded with sea water, sending the sub to the bottom. Veterans submariners say the sailors in the Kursk's bow almost certainly are dead. Survivors are more likely to have been stationed in the rear of the vessel. Every submariner knows that tomorrow it could happen to him,'' said retired Russian Capt. Valerei Zelichonok, who commanded submarines before moving to Israel in 1990.