The sinking of the K-278 led to concerns over environmental contamination, as the submarine went down with its nuclear reactor—and two nuclear-armed torpedoes on board.
The K-278 Komsomolets, known by its NATO designation as the Mike-Class submarine, stands as a remarkable yet tragic chapter in Soviet naval history. This nuclear-powered attack submarine, part of Project 685 Plavnik, was designed for unprecedented deep-sea operations during the Cold War era. With its innovative titanium hull and record-breaking diving capabilities, the K-278 represented the pinnacle of Soviet engineering.
The K-278’s short service life, however, ended abruptly on April 7, 1989, when it sank in the Norwegian Sea, claiming 42 lives—and raising ongoing environmental concerns due to its nuclear payload.
Design and Specifications of the Mike-Class Submarine
- Year Introduced: 1983
- Number Built: 1
- Length: 117.5 m (385 ft)
- Beam (Width): 10.7 m (35 ft)
- Displacement:
- 4,400-5,750 tons surfaced
- 6,400-8,000 tons submerged
- Engines: One 190 MW OK-650 b-3 PWR reactor; two 45,000 shp steam turbines
- Top Speed:
- 14 knots (16 mph, 26 km/h) surfaced
- 26-30 knots (30-35 mph, 48-56 km/h) submerged
- Range: Unlimited
- Armaments: SS-N-15 Starfish anti-submarine missiles; six 533mm torpedo tubes for conventional and nuclear torpedoes
- Crew: 64
The K-278 Komsomolets was a one-of-a-kind vessel, developed by the Rubin Design Bureau to test technologies for future fourth-generation Russian nuclear submarines. Ordered in 1966 and designed by 1974, its keel was laid in 1978 at Severodvinsk, with launch in 1983 and commissioning on December 28, 1983.
What set this Mike-Class submarine apart was its double-hull construction, featuring an inner hull made entirely of titanium for enhanced strength and corrosion resistance in deep waters. This gave the submarine the capacity to operate in far deeper waters than most of its Soviet and Western counterparts. On August 4, 1984, the K-278 achieved a world record by diving to 3,346 feet in the Norwegian Sea—far surpassing contemporary US submarines like the Los Angeles-class sub, which topped out around 1,476 feet.
The Komsomolets’ hull included seven compartments, with a “safety zone” in the second and third protected by reinforced bulkheads, and an escape capsule in the sail for emergencies. Initially designed for 57 crew members, it carried 64 by commissioning and 69 during its final patrol.
The K-278’s Operational History and Sinking
Homeported at Bolshaya Lopatka in Zapadnaya Litsa, the K-278 entered service amid heightened Cold War tensions. It was later renamed “Komsomolets” in October 1988, after the Soviet youth organization.
The submarine conducted several patrols, including Arctic operations, demonstrating its combat maneuvering and deployment capabilities. As the sole Mike-Class prototype, it served as a testbed for advanced sonar, automation, and deep-diving tech, influencing later designs like the Akula-and-Yasen-classes.
Despite its innovations, the submarine faced challenges. High construction costs and complexity limited production to one unit, and operational demands strained its systems. By 1989, during its third patrol in the Arctic Ocean, the K-278 was pushing the limits of Soviet naval prowess.
Then, on April 7, 1989, while submerged at 1,099 feet underwater, about 112 miles southwest of Bear Island, Norway, disaster struck. A short circuit ignited a fire in the engineering compartment, rapidly spreading through cable penetrations due to high-pressure hydraulics using flammable fluid. The reactor “scrammed” automatically, cutting propulsion, and electrical failures compounded as cables burned at temperatures up to 2,000 degrees F.
Crew efforts to extinguish the blaze failed as the fire fed on the compressed air system. An emergency ballast blow surfaced the submarine after 11 minutes, but it remained afloat for only around five hours.
Distress signals were sent, and most of the 69-crew abandoned ship into near-freezing waters. The vessel sank in 5,512 feet of water, 155 miles south-southwest of Bear Island. Casualties were heavy. 42 Soviet sailors died, including nine during the initial fire and sinking, 30 from hypothermia or injuries in the frigid sea, and three on a rescue boat. Captain First Rank Evgeny Vanin and four others used the escape capsule, but only one survived the surface impact. Rescue arrived too late for many, highlighting deficiencies in Soviet emergency protocols.
The K-278 Disaster Shaped Soviet Naval Doctrine
The wreck of the K-278 Komsomolets lies upright on the Barents Sea floor, buried 9.8 feet in sediment, with its nuclear reactor and two nuclear-tipped torpedoes intact. Initial fears of radiation leaks were confirmed in 1994 when plutonium was detected from one torpedo.
Joint Norwegian-Russian expeditions in 2019 found elevated caesium-137 levels (up to 800 Bq/L) near a ventilation pipe, though dilution rendered it non-threatening to the environment. Hull fractures were sealed in the 1990s with a protective sealant, ensuring safety for 20-30 years, and annual monitoring continues.
The incident exposed flaws in Soviet submarine design, such as flammable materials and inadequate fire suppression, leading to reforms in Russian naval safety.
Environmentally, the doomed submarine remains a concern, with potential leaks threatening Arctic fisheries. The K-278’s story underscores the risks of deep-sea nuclear operations and serves as a cautionary tale in maritime history.
Russia’s K-278 Komsomolets Mike-Class submarine epitomized innovation, but ended in tragedy. Its sinking is a poignant reminder of the human and environmental costs of military ambition.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
