Band of men in their yellow submarine!

Unlike the lyrics of the famous Beatles song, one does not “live a life of ease, and have all you need”, if you join the submarine arm. As recent events have shown. As I am sure many of your readers know only too well submarine accidents are not the domain of 'happens only in India'! And from 1947 to now probably around 80 accidents have taken place. Since the year 2000 itself , there have been twenty-seven major naval incidents involving submarines from: ten American submarines, five Russian, five British, two Canadian, one Chinese, two Indian, one Australian, and one French. Eight nuclear submarines have sunk as a consequence of either accident or extensive damage: two from the United States Navy, four from the Soviet Navy, and two from the Russian Navy. Only three were lost with all hands: two from the United States Navy and one from the Russian Navy. All sank as a result of accident with the exception of K-27, which was scuttled in the Kara Sea when repair was deemed impossible and decommissioning too expensive. All of the Soviet/Russian submarines belonged to the Northern Fleet. Although the Soviet submarine K-129 (Golf II) carried nuclear ballistic missiles when it sank, it was a diesel-electric submarine and is not in the list below. Of the 8 sinking’s, 2 were due to fires, 2 were due to explosions of weapons systems, 1 was due to flooding, 1 was weather-related, and 1 was sunk intentionally due to a damaged nuclear reactor. In 1 case, the cause of sinking is unknown. All of the subs are in the Northern Hemisphere, and there are none in either the Indian or Pacific Oceans. In fact it is to the credit of the Indian Navy to have had over 40 years of submarine operation almost blemish free. I don’t know of any other Navy who can claim the same track record. Having said that, there is no excuse for any peacetime accident in one’s own berthing station regardless of the cause. Commanding any warships is a non compromising job. The Captain of a warship is responsible and accountable for his ship and men at all times, short of an unexpected act of God. In the merit order of calamities. Losing a submarine in war is forgiven, than losing it in peacetime while on patrol or exercise. And certainly, losing your ship while it is in harbor or tied up alongside is not acceptable. Captains, whose ships are hit and sunk in wartime, therefore choose to go down with their ships to avoid the shame & ignominy of their fellow men in not being able to secure their ships, and bring their men home back safely, and are in line with naval traditions from centuries of seamanship. Death before dishonor best describes this practice. Nothing has changed since. Two points; (1) Other than the usual suspects (engineering/material failure/faulty equipment, battery, electrical, aux, etc) which will be investigated. The issues of (a) human error by way of SOP’s/ inspection regime before and during handling of ordinance loading (b) Availability, preparedness and adherence to ’Stand by' SOP's in case of exigency /eventualities of such nature, and (c) any reduction in the recently concluded 'full overhaul' for submarine fleet operational reasons, merit some attention. If I recollect this is the third incident within Mumbai naval dockyard and harbor in last few years. Sinking at ones berthing station was last evidenced at Pearl Harbor! And that was during 'imminent hostile action. Since then the US Navy changed their strategy, as did all professional navies of the World. The sinking’s of USS Thresher (1963) and USS Scorpion (1968) with all hands on deck were defining points in submarine history - as that kicked off the most ambitious submarine safety, rescue program, and culture of its kind (SUBSAFE). Lessons obviously lost on the Russians with their plethora of mishaps with various submarines over the last few years! (2) Perhaps this will give a fillip to (a) expediting the 30 sub fleet plan & replacement of obsolescence (b) improve submarine rescue capability, and (c) last but not least, a secular and steady programme of navy indigenization – with near zero dependence on diffident suppliers of yore! Sending ships to and fro their original yards and paying top $ for such services for major overhaul and refits creates an unhealthy dependency. I hope the Navy BOI headed by a senior submariner does get to the bottom of it and makes requisite changes in SOPSs, inspection & verification regime, safety regulations compliance, command & control, training, drills, exercises, manuals, contingency plans, emergency response, etc. When you join the submarine arm, you it is not just a well paid job or post with good retirement benefits. It is a calling, a passion. Where margins of error are zero, and consequence is life!