Extinguishers more dangerous than fire at sea?

[Alexb83]

Seems that a Russian sub under evaluation for sale to India has suffered an accident with their Halon system;

20 dead, boat was overloaded with 120 odd extra personnel with insufficient EBS to go around...

http://redbannernorthernfleet.blogspot.com/2008/11/accident-on-akula-ii-k-152-nerpa.html

These sorts of things always have to happen when you're trying to sell your boats!

 

[Wishbone]

What is it with export subs?
Didn't all those old diesel-electric ones Britain sold to Canada catch fire too?

Moral of this story is build your subs at home I think.

 

[DM]

No, one of theex-RN boats suffered an electrical fire as a result of a short in they system whilst the boat was on the surface in marginalweather. http://www.vcds.forces.gc.ca/boi_chicoutimi/pubs/executive_e.asp

The Russian boat didn't catch fire. The fire fighting system was activated either by a computer malfunction or by a curious crew member b****ing about with the environmental control systems, depending on which story you believe.

Given the limited abilities of countries around the world to build subs domestically following that "moral" would eliminate emost current operators from the ability to do so. Plus, an examination of submarien incidents shows no correlation between export and domestic operations.

Real moral of the story - submarine operations are inherently dangerous.

 

[Alexb83]

Indeed - most submarine accidents are domestic by definition! On recorded incidents, I think you'll find that export subs are a great deal safer.

The moral is that putting men inside a metal tube and then purposefully sinking it is a dangerous undertaking. We have made it somewhat less dangerous over the years by reducing the risks, but that is all.