|
Russians Accidentaly Sink Own Baltic Flagship
Right on the heels of the sub explosion yesterday, the usual antics of the Russian Navy continue...The flagship of Russiaâs Baltic Fleet, the Neukrotimy patrol ship has been hit by a demonstration bomb and partially sunk in the Neva River in the center of St. Petersburg, the Kommersant daily reported on Monday. The incident happened just one day before Sundayâs Navy Day parade that was held in the city. The Neukrotimy (âIndomitableâ) arrived in St. Petersburg for celebrations to mark Russian Navy Day on July 26. On July 30, it suddenly submerged below its waterline, collecting water in its engine compartment, the Itar-Tass news agency reported. Divers found a rupture in a weld joint and plastered it, after which the ship was moved to a dock for repairs, the agency said. Kommersant, however, gave details of the incident which forced the flagship to be removed from the parade. The daily said that the sailors planned to make a show of destroying a dummy sea mine during Sundayâs parade. The dummy, which still had about 30 kilograms of TNT in it, was supposed to create a huge splash that would spray the spectators on the embankment. However, the current brought the bomb up to the shipâs hull together with the anchor and it exploded causing the Neukrotimy to partially submerge. Oooops The Military Prosecutorâs Office has opened a criminal case under the article âcareless handling of potentially dangerous itemsâ. They said that the role and degree of responsibility of the military officials in charge of the preparation and conducting of training measures near the ship would be ascertained during the investigation. Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2005-08-03 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=125804 |