What Happened To Russia’s Cold War Nuclear Submarines? | The End Of Red October | Timeline

At the end of the Cold War the Russian Navy, bereft of funds, abruptly decommissioned 100 nuclear powered submarines leaving behind a massive nuclear waste disposal problem. This program reviews the progress of the long term project to properly dispose of the submarine's reactor cores and the major challenges those working on the project are dealing with.
It's like Netflix for history... Sign up to History Hit, the world's best history documentary service and get 50% off using the code 'TIMELINE' bit.ly/3a7ambu
You can find more from us on:
/ timelinewh
/ timelinewh
This channel is part of the History Hit Network. Any queries, please contact [e-mail]

[@xCAPTNxBACONx]

"A place still surrounded by secrecy" security guard unlocks gate allowing camera crew inside. LOL

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Don't take pictures of our rust bucket's.

[@BillOweninOttawa]

"We've got one who can see!" - They Live

[@thomasweatherford5125]

I thought the exact same thing. Made me chuckle.

[@skeetrix5577]

In soviet Russia, gate opens you

[@theyoyoyo7833]

Lmfao a hilariously good point

[@DeAlpineBro]

I do not know about the Soviet subs, but we did a final inspection of the Reactor Compartment before leaving for patrol and a sponge was used to soak up the condensate that had collected in the low spots. I did it twice. It was kind of cool.

[@johnhanek167]

Fascinating. I had no prior knowledge of this. 2 thumbs up!

[@criticaltheories5222]

This is absolutely mind-blowing. I trying to keep up with news, but this has completely stunned me. I've never seen anything like it.

[@trevormurphy7041]

You should watch combat approved and there’s a lot more documentaries look for ones in Russian with subtitles a lot better Then this

[@grahamsawyer831]

this is a fine documentary. even the overly dramatic narration can't detract from this truly epic narrative; all of us who grew up during the Cold War were acutely aware every day that we may not have lived to see tomorrow. awesome, top marks.

[@denniswhite166]

Duck and cover!

[@ashdoglsu]

Kinda ripping in the Reds

[@zachbell8252]

Even though it’s not talked about enough and maybe not as much on the “Any minute” pressure it was back then but I’d say we’re in a Cold War (if you will) present day

[@richardstaples8621]

Have you heard of the inverse square law?

[@GevEdgar]

¡Quite curious and interesting!

[@SARHistories]

Love these documentaries! Keep them coming 👍

[@michaelvicario2584]

😎

[@barriewright2857]

Brilliant and very interesting and informative. The vastness of this project and scope are orinspiaring.

[@forcesightknight]

As a US Marine, I pray for the day we can hold hands across the globe. The choices of our youth, become the regrets of our old age, when wisdom exceeds intelligence and ego.

[@ModernPsychadelic]

Dig it!

[@csb772]

That will never happen. Humanity is to greedy

[@tonymarchant2860]

Yeah hindsight is great

[@goodwill3649]

Thank you We all can't get on the same page because some are in the wrong Library the only books they have are filled with paranoia and aggression and domination many of us spend time in that Library but expand Horizons as we learn virtue it's part of growing up. love your spirit

[@beattheman9290]

Good thoughts, what's your take on Armageddon ? River of Life ? Army Air Cav vet.

[@Mr.Possums]

Really glad I found this channel! These videos have now become something I play on another monitor while being productive.

[@teresabarnes-matych]

My father was a Submariner in WWII Pacific so this topic is always of interest to me. What a miserable situation this is for so many people & much nature! Imagine if all that money, time, effort and expertise had been used for something positive for the planet and it’s occupants! What an Astounding Level of Waste and destruction just for deterrence. 🙏Always Remember the USS Liberty🙏

[@williamyoung9401]

Must be why it's all volunteer and they pay the most, lol.

[@dave8599]

Remember the 9-11 attack. Islams war on freedom.

[@teresabarnes-matych]

@@dave8599 Islam against our freedoms? They had the Patriot Act ready to go instantly

[@charlestorruella8591]

imagine what you could build with all the metal and copper and fuel and so on and so on with all the weapons they have built in the last 150 years since the dawn of the industrial revolution, its porpoise, it's reason for being created........to kill and destroy lives and where they live! think of all we could have done with that or are we worried about population control and who would gets to decide that. what a world we live in when we see ourselves as fictional characters, the hero's in a story when we are the villains........and If you have to ask to understand all of that then........

[@tonymarchant2860]

And the kursk an many many more so bloody sad.we always seem to forget that these machines are made to kill each over its almost unbelievable when you Really think about it

[@richt6353]

Thank You for this GREAT VIDEO!

[@whyter11]

"For 40 years the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war" 2022 - Here we go again folks...

[@stumpedii8639]

idiots poking the bear that only wants to be left alone.

[@stumpedii8639]

@@abcdef-qk6jf you must only watch MSM.. fact is usa did a coup in 2014 in ukraine.. installed their cia man.. and then commmenced murdering ukrainians.. also .. when the soviet union went away they promised nato wouldnt move an inch towards moscow.. all lies.. now the us doing in ukraine what russia tried to do in cuba.. we didnt let them.. and in fairness they shouldnt let us.. your propagandized.. your lied to by your own govt.. and your buying it hoook line and sinker.. putin is not the bad guy here.

[@stumpedii8639]

putin didnt start this war.. the usa did.. but putin is going to finish it.. thank god for the us taxpayers sake.. someone.. even putin.. someone is saying no to the MIC looting this country and murdering millions.

[@stumpedii8639]

fact is if the usa never went into ukraine.. no ukrainians would be dying rnight now.. also almost all the ukrainians killed by their own govt since the us backed 2014 coup would still be alive.. putin is not responsible for doing what hte usa forced him to do. anymore than we were responsible for any deaths caused by the cuban missile crisis. tho we did kill alot of cubans even a us president.. over cuba.. that was when they did the JFK coup.. the same monsters causing wars all over hte planet.. still there..

[@oceanhome2023]

@@stumpedii8639 Mega upvotes !!’

[@StephiSensei26]

Brilliant and Terrifying! Those of us who'd lived through the Cold War, are just glad to still be here. Perhaps this is the lesson for the entire world, "Destroy the enemy, and yourself at the same time". From this horror, there is no escape. And we created it. We can do better.

[@Crashed131963]

Is it over? Putin is as crazy as any leader the USSR had.

[@ricardoxavier827]

Pakistan are islamic thinking and has nuclear weapons. The danger to the world are not the russians.

[@Crashed131963]

@@ricardoxavier827 Not the world , not sure if Pakistan can hit North America and if they did they may take out a west coast city or a few cities in the Europe , but the response strike on Pakistan would turn the entire country into the moon's surface. Pakistan is not suicidal yet.

[@ricardoxavier827]

@@Crashed131963 yet... The last decades they educate all their children to become islamic extremists. They already are having issues with that, and after the brainwash, they no longer can reverse what they did to the new generation. We will have bad news soon from pakistan, and we might see a india vs pakistan nuclear war when that generation of extremists get access to the nuclear weapons... Afghanistan are controled by the pashtun ethnic, and the pakistan side of that ethnic will start to become extremist as well... Baluchistan already started the attacks over the pakistan army, and it doesnt look good the next years... Russia are the last of our concerns. And if Iran trully develop nuclear weapons, even worse.

[@lunafringe10]

the Cold War was fanned by the West. The US aided Russia in the hope, Russia would exhaust itself, so it could be taken over easily, And at the same time defeat the Wehrmacht, so Britain could survive, when it was on the brink. After the war, the west treated Russia like an apprentice. It gave East Germany to Russia when Russias Red Army had already occupied it. How generous. Stalin agreed only cause the red army had to fight Japan and China in the East. And the US pampered the Nazis, took them to the US to work for them. To catch up with Russias rocket and missile programs.

[@justlucky8254]

Same thing is done to American subs in Bremerton, WA. Reactors are sealed up the same way and barged down the cost and up the river between Washington and Oregon. The machine shop I worked in at the yard had a drydock on either side. One always had at least a couple of subs being cut up in it at the same time.

[@markmahan2017]

I was at PSNS in late '90-'92. Got to see it first hand while the Vinson was in dry dock. Extremely fascinating, as I served as a sub hunter.

[@suzyqualcast6269]

F F K S !!

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Irresponsibility, thus, with a known unknown. It's ridiculous, no wonder Earth's 'visitors' exhibit concern.

[@khiem1939]

True and the tanks at Hanford have been leaking plutonium for at least 50 years and the U.S. Government will NEVER be able to CLEAN UP that area and the Columbia River, which is NOW unfit to use for drinking water!

[@justlucky8254]

@@markmahan2017 I machined the prop shafts for the Vinson when it was in for overhaul around 2005 or so.

[@robertkrump2015]

Keep up the good work

[@timmotel5804]

Superb documentary. Thank You so much.

[@MisteriosGloriosos922]

*really enjoyable and love history!!!*

[@gnansink]

The Russians didn't raise the Kursk, the Dutch did! Russians didn't have the capacity for that either, a joint venture between Smit International & Mammoet Transport lifted and towed it back to Murmansk.

[@DutchmanAmsterdam]

They mentioned the Norwegian divers, but not the Dutch salvagers. Why?

[@lunafringe10]

the Dutch made up for their horrific 300 years of terror in Indonesia

[@SvalbardSleeperDistrict]

@John Cliff "Shows just how unprepared they were if ever an accident happened . Or if they ever cared about." Not easy to be prepared for anything when your economy has been collapsed under guidance of shock doctrine neoliberal economic ideologists combined with domestic oligarchs who stole public wealth and appropriated infrastructure for personal gain to the last nut and bolt after the dissolution of the USSR. No state with that level of economic crisis would be ready for anything.

[@raypitts4880]

@@DutchmanAmsterdam cheap video im afraid

[@thomassecurename3152]

A very compelling presentation. Thank you. P

[@MythicPlague]

Great show very cool thank you for allowing myself to watch it.

[@simonflett125]

Why do such documentaries repeat themselves throughout, as though their audience cannot retain information or images already presented? It turns a fascinating topic with some amazing footage, into an endurance exercise for the viewer.

[@3tapsnu0ut87]

They learn from advertising! A ruination of education :-(

[@tanha8178]

Agree. Sadly and annoyingly it's how most documentaries are made: replay a short sceen again and again with dramatic narration. But this one is good for sure

[@1337flite]

Because they are designed for broadcasrt media where the audience may not watch start to finish and does not have the option of rewinding.

[@3tapsnu0ut87]

@@1337flite Sounds like school :-(

[@hennasen]

We live in an age of channel hopping, therefore by repeating itself the documentary appeals to the lowest common denominator. The group that has attention deficit.

[@taniakeen4375]

You know in a world war 2 cookery book, in the centre was first aid in the event of having atom and hydrogen bonds dropped in your area, it was quite surprising how small the area of damage was for an atom bomb verses a hydrogen bomb.

[@robertbarnes5953]

Hydrogen bombs were not even envisaged in WW2 and atom bombs only came into use at the very end of the war in fact they ended it.

[@Edax_Royeaux]

The bombing of Tokyo was more devastating than Hiroshima in terms of causalities.

[@richardschwarz7071]

Tokyo was atom bombed?? Dang I thought it was Nagasaki and Hiroshima 🤔😆

[@Edax_Royeaux]

@@richardschwarz7071 Tokyo was firebombed with conventional bombs. Estimated 130,000 civilians dead.

[@jimrollins7425]

@choossuck k

[@stevewilliams6354]

Very interesting well done thank you

[@dutchhoke6555]

Great concept there..now I know what a floating "dry" dock is ..

[@silvertongue3003]

Wow a documentary on something truly interesting again.. feels like one of those 90s documentaries

[@churblefurbles]

I'm sure they stole the footage from documentaries made just a few years after the 90s lol

[@dutchhoke6555]

A superb, comprehensive and Riveting (haha) report; reassuring and also frightening. Dad was a uniformed Airforce reservist, mom a helmited civil defense warden- in the 60s; we lived a couple hours from New York City. Tense times, for sure.

[@michaelvangundy226]

Duck and cover!

[@paulsuprono7225]

Inevitably, Connecticut

[@tonymarchant2860]

Riveting brilliant word helmeted civilian another good word you should write books

[@222foont]

To stretch out the content?

[@manuwilson4695]

...nuclear subs are WELDED!...not riveted. Riveting would guarantee dangerous leaks. Dumb humour, mate 🙄

[@johndesade126]

Excellent production!

[@Sarge-xg6kx]

Great presentation.

[@Roddy229]

Soviet era subs like the Severstal (Typhoon class TK-20) were disposed of using help from other nations such as the US, Germany, and others. They still retain most of the Delta class boats, and one Typhoon as a test bed for new tech, such as the RSM-56 Missile system

[@wrath2008]

Wait explain dis

[@sc1338]

@@wrath2008 explain what?

[@tefnutfps8329]

American help😀😀😀

[@davidstevens6117]

I worked on the engines on the P3 Orion ASW aircraft during a Navy enlistment in the early/mid 80s. Those Typhoon - class subs were monsters! They weren't very quiet, but they carried a LOT of destructive power in their hulls!

[@79huddy]

@@tefnutfps8329 we helped them sell the nuclear parts that could be used for nuclear power plants in South America it was done during a disarmament deal plus we had nuclear warheads we were decommissioning for more powerful ones and selling the old stuff was a good deal for everyone and they would be heavily guarded and accounted for and gave the U.S. and Russia a bigger foothold in gaining resources from South America through energy deals and building nuclear power plants

[@dutchhoke6555]

This docu and discussion seems to have me "fired up" (..apologies..) I actually appreciate engineers, some pretty smart people, including nuclear and aerospace folks. Amazing vehicles we're sending afar..I pray all humans can be as involved in constructive endeavors to preserve our own planet, BEFORE we seriously tinker with others.

[@maryranijesudas453]

In changing times polotical leadership over EGOISM USE OF NUCLEAR ,BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS IS PRIMARY and NOT their own citizens or HUMANS AROUND THE GLOBE .

[@annettah13]

Thanks you for the video

[@sravantinku1500]

All time favorite channel.

[@garyjohnson1466]

This very well produced documentary, just because we can do build something for whatever reason, power, or wealth, doesn’t mean we should, those in position of power must think about the future, everything has its consequences, everything had a life expectancy, especially man made machines, how they are disposed of must be taken into account, as this well made documentary shows, it’s ashamed that such war machines are created to begin with, that nations create war machines for political differences, for economic advantages over others, it’s all about wealth and power, sadly, it’s insane, that humanity will likely destroy itself as we destroy earth environment for dwelling resources…

[@bubblehead78]

@05:05 The Soviet Union did not fall 'overnight'. It was a long, drawn-out process. The United States and its allies basically out-spent the USSR during the Cold War. It took years, but it finally happened... but not 'overnight'. Retired USN submariner.

[@richardstevens8839]

The CCCP didn’t invest in semiconductors. To this day only Japan and the United States manufacture Grade 1 semiconductors. China’s centralised decision making is making the same mistakes as the Soviet Union.

[@JeanLucCaptain]

And of course NATO never stopped once the Cold War was over. Hence the current war.

[@bubblehead78]

@@JeanLucCaptain You're blaming the current was (I assume you mean Russian war against Ukraine) is caused by NATO? I disagree. It's caused by that meglomaniac Putin.

[@bonzomcduffy8336]

I always love the dramatic music. It makes me want to play the cello loudly.

[@zaz4667]

awesome show!

[@kiwibob223]

You can tell this was produced in USA, they repeat the same "factoids" every ten minutes. Cause the attention span is too short in the target audience.

[@rogersmith7396]

I think it was cut up to allow advertisements.

[@kiwibob223]

@@rogersmith7396 possibly but why does the guy keep repeating the same sentences again and again? Would you forget the danger is radiation because an ad break occurs? This type of narration is only seen in the US bud. It makes it almost unwatchable for us, four of us just sat down to watch it and we ended up playing cards as it played in the back ground.

[@theallseeingeye9388]

@@kiwibob223 Its a Discovery Channel style of dcumentary. Need about 40 odd minutes of material to fit a one hour slot with adds in between. Most often they barely have 15 minutes of actual written or facts so they stretch it by adding alot of footage repeating the same points again and again. Its the Mc Donalds model of documentary making. Cheap and fast to make, large and filling but of little nutritional value. Same template production line method that is rinsed and repeated to make a menu large enough to make it look like there is variety. Thats why Discovery made big bucks and burnt to the ground.

[@batmscot6149]

Thank you on behalf of the human race for your efforts. That geezer talking about his understanding of the subs and crew is hysterical .Why are we still making nuke subs here in Britain and other countries that's the real question our future generations will ask us?

[@ricardoxavier827]

Maybe the next subs will be by hydrogen. Diesel subs has to let the gaz escape so cant be underwater too long. Nuclear submarines are only limited by human needs like food and meds... Hydrogen after fuel cell becomes oxigen and water, so, much better than diesel, and much safer than nuclear. Hydrogen+food+meds+whatever, would become the new sub standard work time. If a hydrogen sub can stay underwater by a month, are already a great standard and are as silent as the nuclear are, electrical engines.

[@thulomanchay]

Do the Russians have so many *nuclear* submarines in the first place? Diesel powered submarines, yeah, but nuclear powered submarines? How many hundred nuclear submarines does the United States have? They have an almost unlimited budget for military spending.

[@belledetector]

@@thulomanchay Russia still operates 10 nuclear-powered nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) They carry 16 SLBM each and every SLBM can deploy multiple MIRV´s making up a total of 600-800 nuclear warheads. - Sleep well.

[@pieterveenders9793]

@@ricardoxavier827 What do you mean, diesel subs have to let the gas escape? Do you mean that they can't produce oxygen electrolytically like nuclear submarines can with their surplus of electricity? And what did you mean to say in your fourth sentences? Because hydrogen does not become oxygen and water, it is oxygen and hydrogen which becomes water. Were you referring to hydrogen fuel cell based AIP submarines, like Germany uses?

[@ricardoxavier827]

@@pieterveenders9793 i was using just my imagination, but i research about AIP and its close. I was mentioning the use of hydrogen directly as a energy source to produce all the electricity. No diesel at all. Instead of diesel, green hydrogen by fuel cell. The sub can go up and fill air deposit with more compreced air for the hydrogen fuell cell. The sub go up for the air, and the hydrogen are the dense energy storage, without need to refill so soon. Hydrogen in the deposit inside the sub, and a second storage deposit, to compress air from the sea surface. We have the air everywere... ;)

[@thesaints-7-andrew.]

Watching from Greece.hi everybody. Great documentary.

[@GazC]

I love the gieger counter sound effects added whenever there is a reactor compartment on screen 🤣

[@travelertime4382]

Bob Ballard's search for the Titanic was the cover story for photographing the condition of all the known sunken nuclear subs. Off of Portsmouth, the Thruster, was where they did the equipment shake down, for example. Finding the Titanic was done with the left over ship time.

[@SD-unlimited]

Are you referring to Portsmouth New Hampshire and the “Thresher”? Had never heard that about Ballard but it is interesting.

[@bigal3055]

@@SD-unlimited They pulled a similar sleight of hand with Howard Hughes and K-129, so it wouldn't surprise me if they actually did that with Bob Ballard too.

[@yammbagg4866]

Yes the “thruster”🤡

[@Jasonsminiadventure]

That would actually explain a lot if true.

[@travelertime4382]

@@bigal3055 It is true. I was there as as a navigation officer and saw Prof. Ballards face when I pointed out that we were100's of miles away from the Carpathia's reported position. So it goes.

[@malcolmprice3654]

I visited Murmansk in the company of an official there when the Kursk went down. We crossed the border from Norway. Unfortunately I had recently had radio active isotopes inserted in my prostate. The sensors at the remote border crossing were really sensitive……..! The young soldiers were difficult to persuade with no shared language.

[@florinivan6907]

Or maybe they were told to pretend they don't understand. Just because they look confused doesn't mean they are confused.

[@fastone942]

There’s sensor technology for radioactivity that is amazing I was working a super bowl a few years ago as we’re closing the road with barriers and fences i’m driving with a couple of guys from homeland security and one of my guys in my city own expedition they keep calling is there anybody out there that you see is there anybody out there that you see and they keep calling back are you sure yes and I turn around and ask what are they seeing or picking up despite the fact we are not part of the feds they tell me radio active detectors keep going off picking up a radioactive source I start laughing I know where it’s coming from The guy working with me and had radio isotopes. Injected for a procedure the day before we all start laughing I guess the sensors are working before that I had no idea how sensitive their equipment could be

[@LS-rw9yp]

This belongs on the “It didn’t happen channel”

[@kbanghart]

@@LS-rw9yp Mmm k

[@anncodec]

Huh?

[@Shotyhan]

this is jaw dropping impressive

[@100SteveB]

If you look on Google Earth, at the moment the latest image date is 2021. There were 112 Nuclear cores lined up there. With the exception of 3 of them, all were cylindrical like sub sections. I thought that number was high, until I checked, the soviets produced about 240 nuclear subs in total. I wonder where the rest of them are? Whilst looking through historical images of the Nerpa site, I came across a very sad image - the Kursk still sitting in the special dock awaiting dismantling. One of those images that really makes you stop and think.

[@louisburland5346]

enjoyable documentary but by god so so so much is absolute nonesense or grosley innacurate... it was gut wrenching for us in the submarine world of any nation when the kursk was lost we had the honor of being tracked and chased for 2 weeks the previous year but when the news hit about her our entire crew were very sombre uk usa french it doesnt matter what navy you are from it affects you all

[@paularthur8055]

I have to say I felt the same way you describe when the Kursk went down. I spent several of the younger years of my life beneath the waves and ice and you really do feel for others that lose their lives in the same occupation.

[@seanriopel3132]

Yeah like decommissioning over 200 nuclear subs and ice breakers is a multi million dollar operation... Try billions!!!

[@JeanLucCaptain]

I find the most DW documentaries have a very notable anti Russia or China bias and take ever opportunity to get in cheap shots. This is a rare exception.

[@paulcock8929]

My god, what a stupidity this cold war was, and now they are starting a new one. We have to get save ourselves from those warmongers.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Indeed, we did all this to help them and now they build new ones and threaten to invade Ukraine because they think it's 'theirs'

[@paulcock8929]

@@MostlyPennyCat "them" are not "they". The USSR is not Russia, and it is the military-industrial complex of the USA, that is starting a new cold war. The Maidan revolt was a USA organized revolt against a democratically voted president.

[@lunafringe10]

not them, the US did.

[@jackreisewitz7219]

Why do you think that the cold war ended?? Ended for who?? As long as militaries exist, the issue of defending your military, and then your country will exist. We tell each other that the cold war ended, but for the world's militaries, it never did. And never could. The biggest factor in "The End of The Cold War", was the Chernobyl disaster crushing the Russian Economy. The costs that inflicted on the Russian Economy is never really talked about. Ironically, the foreign aid and assistance in decommissioning the nuclear submarines allows Russia to escape that financial burden and spend the funds elsewhere - like upgrading their military. The more things change, the more they stay the same. And the countries of the world are also financing the effort to encrypt the Chernobyl reactor - while Russia updates their military and prepared to "Annex" the rest of Ukraine. Russia has always seen conquering Ukrainia as a way of aquiring a warm water sea port. They've done it repeatedly, and now they're at it again.

[@paulcock8929]

@@jackreisewitz7219 True, the cold war never did end for the military industriel complex and the warmonger-bureacrats of the Nato. A country must be capable to defend itself, but the aim must be peace, and not hate for Russia and profit.

[@JC-vo5dt]

Thank you.

[@crustycobs2669]

Good timing. The threat is back!

[@dutchhoke6555]

Good they included the Kursk event in the program. BTW, it was also a ( NUCLEAR) torpedo that a Russian submarine officer's only veto prevented launching against an apparant attacking US blockading fleet .(Cuban missile crisis ).

[@brianjones7660]

Very true. I read an article about him. Unsung hero of all time...

[@williamyoung9401]

Where's the Union rep? =P

[@johnjohnson5116]

Didn’t think too many other people remembered him. Yeah pretty much most people living now oh him a huge debt of gratitude.

[@bernieshort6311]

As scary as this documentary is, it is also very interesting, to say the least. Given the dreadful maintenance schedule of in use and standby equipment of the Russian state, this very important intermediate solution would not have happened in such a professional way. Given the alternative to this, the subs could have just rotted away and eventually exposed their dreadful horror onto our world. I am very thankful that Russia is accepting help from outside and will breathe a little softer once all of these reactor sections are safely stored above ground. seventy years isn't too long a time to wait for these tubular vessels to become safe, say one hundred years to be sure, but that’s much better than the alternative. I remember years ago when I first saw a video on the many nuclear subs just rotting away and still afloat, what a horror that seemed and to learn that something is being done about it alas, is a kind of blessing. My big concern now is how the CCP will treat their nuclear subs once they are no longer fit for purpose. I do not see them cooperating with any other nation to make them safe. They are just as likely to go dump them somewhere in the Marians Trench. 🤔Thank you for this video.

[@grumpyhale821]

The CCP part? They'd more than likely dump their sub's of the coast of Taiwan or Japan.

[@carloscastillo8286]

It not just a Russian problem the USA has lost that's right lost multiple nuclear bombs. Not to mention the old test sites.

[@arthurcarr6899]

Can't wait for disclosure

[@richardng259]

russia is the main problem, too egoistic but refuse to admit. they will cause on themselves nuclear armageddon

[@tylergarrett3832]

Fdfyfflyyfffyfiflfilfilllyfllyflfyfffilffyyffylfffyfffyyflfyyyifylffilfilllyyyflflylflfyyfylfylflfyfllyflfyfiflfylfllyflylfylfllyyyyflffilffyyfflyyfflyiflfillyfflyyffiflfilffyflylflfyfllyfffillyfffylfffyyyyyfflyfflyyyfffyflfyyfllyfiflfiflflyffillfyyyflyflyffilfilfilfilllyfffyyyiflffilffyyyyfllyflyfllyyflylfllyyfflyflyflyflfyyyyfifllyfllyyfffyfifllfyfffyflyfylifllyfiflfylflyffiflffyyyfffilffyfliflfillfyfflyyfffyfflyyfffyyflylfylffilflyfylfffilffyyfilifliflyflifllyfpfipfipfupfy

[@hfvhf987]

What a stunning place!

[@pool2587]

thank you

[@vatodad]

I am a real nuclear engineer. I am retired after a career in research. It is most unfortunate that this documentary dramatically overstates the reality. What is far more important is the fact that the attitude of the Soviet Union is the major part of the problem. They have little concern for people or the environment. They're designs also reflect reflect these dismal priorities. It is interesting that they are building large numbers of 5th generation aircraft is an aircraft but are not putting forth the funding to properly deal with decommissioning most of their is their crumbling fleet. It is also most unfortunate that the documentary failed to obtain a legitimate engineer to discuss this situation. As a result the information is not only tainted but a married character cases flat out wrong. For example they discussed that the dose rate drops as a function of distance. However the reduction is far greater as the true nature of the reduction is the cube of the distance. They also failed to discuss the types of radioactivity involved and other important is important data. Most importantly, it is possible to believe that a similar problem exists in the United States which is certainly NOT true at all. The United States has always been deeply concerned with the health of the sailors the sailors and the environment. Consequently the submarines of the United States baby are easily unloaded with Lee unloaded with their nuclear fuel and the nuclear fuel is properly reprocessed which means that there is almost NO waste whatsoever. (Most people have been misled into believing that spent fuel means that the fuel is no longer usable which is a blatant LIE. By reprocessing 99% of the fuel can be returned to the reactor and is actor unused for a significant period of time once again. This process can be replicated for is replicated for decades if not centuries.) So the reality is that this problem in Russia is due to their destructive priorities and not the fact that nuclear reactors are involved. This is certainly even more true when comparing domestic power reactors. Over the last 60 years, the power reactors of the United States have proven to be extremely safe. It's important to note that the Soviet Union uses a different type of reactor for its power reactors. They are fast-flux, graphite-moderated reactors which are extremely unstable and dangerous to operate. Their primary function is to generate plutonium for nuclear weapons... Not to generate power! The United States uses water-moderated reactors (PWR/BWR) which are easy to control and have NO PROBLEMS with instability. The fuel can never be used to create a nuclear weapon. Sadly, few Americans know this truth. Soon the United States will realize that they are at the point where they can no longer generate sufficient power for any of the large cities. Corrupt politicians have convinced the ignorant people that solar power will save the day which as a huge LIE. For many reasons, solar power cannot replace nuclear power for the creation of baseline energy. There are many other lies as well... Including the fact that solar conversion systems degrade between 12 and 15% a year. Within 5 to 7 years they are $100000 Solar System older system will be producing far less than 50% of what it did when it was new. Within 10 years, it will be basically useless. There are many other technical problems. However there are 22 realities that are never told to the people. 1st is the fact that direct conversion systems require more energy to construct them than they will ever create. The 2nd intentional Omission is the fact that they are TOXIC waste! How are they going to dispose of dispose of millions of toxic solar panels??? When I completed my graduate work at Stanford University, I learned so much from doctor Edward Teller and professor Connelly. They both informed me that that the politics were being generated is being generated by corrupt and evil people and that the country would end up with chronic blackouts. California is nearly past the point of no return. If Diablo Canyon is closed, California will experience massive blackouts. (They cannot build natural gas fired power plants fast enough.) You are not hearing this from an ignorant and arrogant fool like Al Gore but from a real, live nuclear engineer with 3 engineering degrees and a career at a national laboratory. The United States has been warned....

[@rookiejr1600]

I don’t understand English that well can some one explain in a short way he said please?

[@theallseeingeye9388]

@@rookiejr1600 1. He compared Russian and Americans nuclear sub tech. 2. He said USSR reactors were good for producing nuclear bomb fissile material not power. 3. He said Russian priority is not safety or environment based. 4. He points out what are the difference. 5. He says USA nuclear reactor fuel can be recycled and used over and over. 6. He than says the current movement for solar energy in the USA especially california is not environmentally friendly or enough. 7. He warns when the last nuclear powerplant in california is shutdown there will be widespread electricity blackout.

[@BillOweninOttawa]

It's war propaganda. Hate propaganda. "Russia must. be. destroyed."

[@richardstaples8621]

Cube of distance or square of distance (inverse square law)?

[@victorburton4886]

Wow

[@nunyabiz8887]

Tho I was not a submariner (surface U.S. fleet) my heart still go's out to the families of the lost Loved One's. And send a shamful message to the pig headed govt that let the survivors parish. My guess is for foolish pride, and or for silence as to what/why it happened.

[@3tapsnu0ut87]

I read the book, much more detail and back story. The lady was injected to shut her up for excellent reasons, most of which are covered in the book and few of which are mentioned elsewhere.

[@kiwibob223]

@@3tapsnu0ut87 what are the excellent reasons?

[@3tapsnu0ut87]

@@kiwibob223 I sincerely recommend you read the book as the answer is way too long to type here. It contains private opinions from the crews families and reflects on the economic issues also involved.

[@DutchmanAmsterdam]

@@3tapsnu0ut87 What is the name of the book and the author? Because no doubt there is more then one book about this subject. There are excellent reasons to murder or jail any opponents of Putin too right? Please stay in Russia, or move there if you live somewhere else.

[@3tapsnu0ut87]

@@DutchmanAmsterdam I don't see a reference in my comments to opponents of anything. As for the book . . . . I read it not long after the incident, which is when it was published. It was years ago and IF my memory serves me, it was a blue cover with a great pic of the Kursk on the front. I don't recall the name as I'm not russian . . . . to Russia or anywhere else. You obviously have a different agenda on the subject, which is your problem, not mine. You may find some closure expressing more than just blame but then this is Utub!

[@banerjeesiddharth05]

Nice video

[@tombouie]

Thks

[@JPREEDY77]

RIP Brave sailors!

[@icetroll734]

Skip to 4:00 for information about topic. First 4 mins was just exaggerated build-up. And after that is repetitive and exaggerated. There is a minute or two of info in there, if you have 40 mins and think of all the repetition as adverts??

[@88njtrigg88]

6:27 50mph is bit exaggerated too.

[@deanduggan2915]

The box liner spray they use to coat in pick up s would be good to seal called rino guard and protect the metal fro rusting as well as giving added thickness to the metal try it its very good product good gfor decades as it wont chip or crack

[@paulskillman7595]

Wow! What a movie this would make!

[@peterhopkins7505]

i remember tracking these boats and the games we played. I worry though of the remote parts of Polar Russia and all the hulls left across the North. Much has been pilfered already, and I am certain much nuclear material just not traceable anymore. Even before Russia's collapse bombs were 'lost'.

[@paularthur8055]

Greetings fellow Blue Nose!

[@alextech2671]

Yes they disposed them but still they as of today have 40 diesel submarine and 34 nuclear submarines.

[@domingodeanda233]

That was pretty damn good.

[@ianmessenger8760]

Would it be possible to use the reactors to power, power stations to replace coal-fired ones?

[@kevinduffy6712]

yes the fuel rods can be reprossed to be used in power generation .

[@samiamgreeneggsandham7587]

How nice of the western allies to shoulder the cost of spent reactor processing so that the Russian navy could put the little money it had toward maintaining and later modernising its remaining nuclear submarine fleet.

[@icecold9511]

Unfortunately Russia has always been irresponsible about this stuff.

[@MacGyver-1]

Communism on display, communism has to be safeguarded by actual profitable nations.

[@battano]

Yeah meanwhile they are invading their neighbors who broke away from the communist party and have had their own nation for 30+ years....

[@nikolaivasilev7371]

@@battano Invading? Ahaha,you mean a country where current government came through a coup? A "government" who won elections by imp[risioning politicians without trail(like president of communist party)? A "government" who as soon as it came into power inacted anti-Russian laws? Do you know that Russia forgave Ukraine debt...TWICE ?! No,why would you,when you only watch headlines of Cun t network and similar. Did you watch burning of people in Odesa? Or perhaps pillaging of Maripool? No,I am sure not.In both cities,much of Russian population left due to violenece and discrimination. From 1/3 of Ukraine population,they are now just 14,8 % ! All thanks to a EU/US backed coup. But just like in Syria,Libya,Iraq,Afghan and so many other places,West never admits its faults and never drops its hypocritical act of being "humane"(while forcing sanctions of food and medicine to countries and people they claim they want to help,by supporting various terrorist groups when it suits them,by organizing and helping coups and overthrowing of legitimate governments and even OPENLY blackmailing other countries with whom they can do business and whom not !)

[@bokiantic]

Somehow they must make it even, just remember - they cannot print money

[@stephendoherty8291]

Lots of Russian ships were encased in Titanium which when recycled is still a very very valuable metal. Plus I presume the steel was of the highest quality to cope with the sea pressure and corrosive conditions.

[@pharaon6718]

I love voice of this narrator !

[@slickstretch6391]

I'm surprised they couldn't find a different use for the reactor cores. They could probably power an entire military base with one or two of them. Also, I love babushka operating the crane at 32:46 :)

[@JohnHansknecht]

In a US sub, once the fuel rods are removed, there should only be minor activated material remaining. The reactor vessel and piping are not made of material that is easily activated through normal operation. Sure, some reactors made in the 50's and 60's were dirty, but this is no longer the case.

[@WarrenPostma]

I believe the Russian designs are more like the 1950s American designs than later ones.

[@kenbellchambers4577]

One of the primary reasons that German engineers are so well educated is because the school system in Germany determines the talents of its students at an early age. Will the student excel at the arts, the trades or the professions? Based on the child' abilities and personal choices, he or she will be educated in more suitable ways, and not waste valuable time and resources learning things of no use to him or her later on.

[@3tapsnu0ut87]

Well I never!! What a good idea :-)

[@scottjohnson9912]

I had a German freind who was an engineer. She told me that what the goverment " picked " for your trade largely depends on what your parents did . If your parents where a doctor, you became a doctor . If your parent was a janitor , well you get the drift . Logical but is this realy fair for the children ?

[@kenbellchambers4577]

@@scottjohnson9912 No, I agree it is not fair. Ultimately, it should be the child's choice. Thank you for shedding more light on the subject. If you came from a family of engineers, had an interest in engineering and had the underlying intellectual requirements, and you wanted to follow in the family tradition, all these elements would raise your skills and abilities, so the more of these factors that come into the equation, the better the results are likely to be. Early specialisation would certainly enhance skills, as young people are capable of learning things with ease.

[@scottjohnson9912]

@@kenbellchambers4577 thank you Ken . My late father was a master machinist , he was a hydro mechanic and worked on steam and water turbans. Picture Hoover damn . My late mother was a concert pianist and secretary for the Navy . As for myself I'm a mechanic , truck driver , heavy equipment operator and retired National Guardsman ( warrior poet ) now I'm a businessman and I can play the French horn . There is some evidence that skills are passed from generations past and I can see it in my life .

[@3tapsnu0ut87]

@@scottjohnson9912 It is still a good idea but many good ideas don't make it to fruition for one reason or another.

[@wiskatesnow]

The breakdown and storage site looks like the setting for a great episode of the x-files

[@DimasArvarenga]

Wow! Salute to the sailors onboard on this submarine.

[@soundtrancecloud5101]

32:46 High tech stuff here, in Soviet Russia grandma is also nuclear salvage crane operator.

[@andywilliams1160]

She also looked like the dockyards bare knuckle champion.

[@soundtrancecloud5101]

@@andywilliams1160 she is, local name mama bear, she can knock out a horse with one slap.

[@Benjaminthecool_]

Lol

[@frogstamper]

As a 58 year old I well remember the cold war, yet after forty years of peace one lunatic is threatening to bring this nuclear nightmare down on us again.

[@russellwilliams3209]

It is the only card he has left after the embarrassing ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

[@obee1kanobee]

Let's hope it doesn't come to that

[@davygould7721]

Stop pissing the bed ffs

[@rodneycraigfoster3733]

@@russellwilliams3209 p0p

[@michaelwirth1402]

It wud b uk that wants the nukes, not Russia also fact😊

[@MrTeff999]

I wish this channel would show the dates that these documentaries were made.

[@joblo341]

What about dropping the waste into a tectonic plate subduction zone?

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

Spent fissile material is almost always in the form of ceramic pellets contained in a series of metal tubes (fuel rods). There's no way it's getting dissolved into your drinking water like sugar cubes. And then there's the other matter: the world's oceans contain vastly, overwhelmingly more natural radioactivity from natural sources (eg. uranium isotopes in sea water) than what can be added by these man-made sources.

[@AllAroundBang]

What the worry more likely is is from fission products, those such as cesium and strontium form bioavailable salts. They're also more active and exposed, and decay from more gamma and beta emissions than thorium or uranium, say.

[@kevinlovevlog9320]

Imagine if you are inside in the Kursk submarine and get sunk what kind of a horror it could be poor sailors RIP

[@thejollyfrog2791]

Who do I contact to purchase one ?

[@jamesbowen2105]

I knew about this in 1990s due to subscribing to Business Week The Economist And Harvard Business Review Quarterly with much more factual Data, Economic Financial back work and detailed accounts of locations and state of abandoned subs, the spread formation of radioactive dispersion...

[@camrenwick]

So much wasted on weapons of death and destruction. But very little (nothing) to fight poverty, homeless, etc.

[@lunafringe10]

because Human Population has exploded, so the problems became bigger,

[@xzqzq]

If memory serves, the USA has spent $ 2T on social welfare since LBJ and the ' War on Poverty '. The simple fact is that it is impossible to save people from themselves. Plus charity doesn't belong in the public sector....

[@MrTaxiRob]

homelessness didn't exist in the USSR

[@smudgey1kenobey]

@@lunafringe10 Exactly so.

[@odysseusargos2784]

What about the retired US Navy submarines? How does the USA dispose of their old and non-operative nuclear reactors?

[@BrianZinchuk]

They similarly cut them up, and then ship the reactor compartments up the Columbia River to the Hanford Site, one of the most contaminated places on Earth, where the fast breeder reactors were built to create the plutonium for America's nuclear arsenal. There, they similarly line them up in a giant trench, really a great big pit, which is supposed to eventually be covered up, I believe. There's a movement for small, modular nuclear reactors for civilian power generation, effectively using very similar nuclear reactors, just a bit bigger. The question the arises - if this is the best the Americans and Russians have come up with for disposing of reactors, what will they do for small modular reactors (SMRs)?

[@lunafringe10]

@@BrianZinchuk there is probably no fish in the Colombia river. Europeans turned America to what it is now, with all the problems.

[@johnp2113]

I had the same question about the retired US Navy nuclear submarines. Not a word was said about them, which was disappointing. I was curious if the US faced the same challenges as the Russians did. I was also curious about the number of nuclear subs the US Navy has scrapped.

[@MrTaxiRob]

@@BrianZinchuk SMRs are supposed to be refueled and returned to service, disposal of the reactor unit would be pretty much the same process. I don't know what their lifespan is supposed to be. What stumps me is why either country doesn't refuel these naval reactors and use them as SMRs right now. They could take a lot of coal and gas plants offline today instead of waiting for all new assets to be built.

[@ANickerson411]

I'm surprised the USA doesn't use Bikini Island since they radiated it with nuclear tests in the mid 40s, leaving the inhabitant radiated.

[@russellwilliams4317]

I bought a remote controlled alligator head from bass pro and took it to a few nearby lakes to 'drive' it around while I was fishing. It was actually pretty entertaining, BUT after a few days a couple of the local media showed up looking for information about a possible alligator. I can't make this up. Of course, I told them I saw it too, while my brothers hid the alligator in the cooler!

[@paulcohen1555]

It will be VERY NICE to have more russian monuments like this.

[@Brera011]

It was NOT the Russians who lifted the Kursk, but a Dutch salvage company.

[@reddraken2255]

Both the US and the UK have the same problem with disposing of its decommissioned submarines and ships. This is not just a Russian issue.

[@MorganMadej]

But, they have more, don't they, compared to the UK

[@reddraken2255]

@@MorganMadej in an article is stated: "The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is responsible for dismantling 27 nuclear submarines - 21 of which are already decommissioned. Seven are stored at Rosyth in Fife, with a further 14 at Devonport, Plymouth." Published on Jan 24, 2022. So, 21 British submarines to be dismantled. Still a big number.

[@WarrenPostma]

But the US and UK are not banana republics. Russia is.

[@delos2279]

The US immediately decommissions and recycles them. Russia leaves them to rust in the sea until the international community offers to help out of concern of contamination.

[@reddraken2255]

@@delos2279 you are incorrect. They do defuel most submarines but there are a bunch waiting to be broken up and recycled. There is a backlog on the dismantling of several nuclear submarines. I counted 22 awaiting dismantling and recycling, so as you say, they are also rusting away, some for many years. It's not just a Russian issue. Check the info with names of the subs here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship-Submarine_Recycling_Program

[@williambush7971]

I spent a good part of my career preparing for nuclear war. I can assure you that it starts to wear on you after awhile. You are always watching the state of the world wondering if war is going to break out causing me to leave my family behind and help with the war effort.

[@bboucharde]

Based upon some of the references made in this video, it appears to date from at least ten years ago. Now that we are deep into Cold War 2, many of the past-tense verbs in the narration can be changed to present-tense. The risk of nuclear war is now higher than at any time since 1962.

[@cha-ka8671]

When you pay your sailor $1,000/ year, that's what you get. A sub at the bottom of the ocean.

[@6120mcghee]

Great informational episode. It is good to see that the Russians are doing their part in containing this massive BEAST.

[@johnfranklin8319]

And largely paid for by countries in the west, Canada, Italy, UK, Germany and of course paying the most, the United States.

[@FarmerJay90]

Laughs in Chernobyl

[@icecold9511]

@@daddy_1453 The ships are to far gone to ever serve again. It isn't disarming, so much as cleaning up their mess. In addition, Russia was always known to take shortcuts that make them even more dangerous.

[@johnfranklin8319]

@@icecold9511 Exactly!👍…..Cleaning up the mess that was the colossal failure of the 70 plus year run of the USSR.

[@williamyoung9401]

As soon as World War 3 ends, we'll get right on it...

[@pauletters225]

i'm curious about all the atomic weapons aboard these apprx 200 subs, if on average there was 10 missiles on each , that could be 2000 or maybe even more obsolete nuclear missiles somewhere. What is the status of those.

[@NYRM1974]

The Kursk submarine was being carefully watched by my under water battle drone MONITOR conducting its stealth testing with great perfect success they never knew it was next to them. Fast dive pressure test prove equally successful in the Marianas Trench. Final testing will be in the Arctic Circle

[@nickkerr8775]

We lost many subs from accidents and equipment failures during the cold war , many us sailors died , it happens to every country.

[@joeerau]

I was surprised, but should not have been, by the crude, or the lack of, personal protection equipment and apparent undisciplined methods and procedures in the disassembly process. I would have been interested in learning what the acceptable radiation exposure per year was in Russia for its nuclear workers. Does anyone know the figure?

[@luorr]

What ever putin say it is

[@yvonnewilson3505]

1.21 GIGAWATTS !!! 😏😳

[@joxepojoxepin2752]

36

[@martinoamello3017]

With enough Vodka it becomes irrelevant.

[@levismith7444]

3.6 roentgen not great, not terrible

[@Cammmmeron]

@35mins in "if only the strong winds will subsidie.." the water looks like glass lol like no wind at all hahah

[@mikedrop4421]

Wonder how they dealt with the titanium subs.

[@marktuttle3609]

As a submarine sailor in the 1980's, we know that we were in the safest place if there was a nuclear holocaust. We also know if that occurred we would have nothing to come home to.

[@Bigbassdrum60]

Absolutely. There are lunatics in place on Capitol Hill that think the U.S. and it's allies could win a Nuclear War. NOBODY WINS IN A NUCLEAR WAR , NOBODY!!

[@theswede5402]

What was the plan for the crew in the event of nuclear war? That you return to some base after the reactor needs refueling and stay there or?

[@justnsaliga8518]

@@theswede5402 ah yes come back to refuel your nuclear reactor in 50 years.

[@justnsaliga8518]

@@theswede5402 all serisnouness though. in the event of total nuclear annihilation all heads of state would likely be decapitated or very few left. whoever's on a nuke boat after that kind of event would be on their own. every man and or ship for themselves. if you manage to survive this event while in the military it would likely be you and your direct superiors and thats it. lower enlisted a couple staff and maybe a few officers just a handful. and you likely wouldn't be getting paid anymore. so again every man for themselves.

[@theswede5402]

@@justnsaliga8518 I could imagine whats left of the military and the politicians who made it to a bunker in time would be the new martial law government.

[@higgme1ster]

This expert at time point 4:30 said that you couldn't find every soviet submarine. That is not true. The US navy by the 1970's was able to continuously track every vessel on the oceans and seas of the globe and everything below the surface. That was one more reason the Soviet Union collapsed. Our US Navy P3 Orion sub-hunters dropped sonar buoys over Soviet submarines on regular missions 24/7/365, networked with our US Navy surface vessels, submarines, and the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) plotted everything within ten feet.

[@JohnSmith-nz2yq]

How do you know these things? I would like to read up.

[@dutchhoke6555]

...destroying them once you find them BEFORE they empty their tubes is a bit more daunting.

[@waynelaw1793]

Crnt arg with that

[@Craig-wp3pz]

The line from red October is accurate ".....sounds like they're towing a bunch of trash cans......" Russian sub fleet not the best engineering or build quality, great steel, better than most others, so deep diving boats, but as noisey as a rock concert 😀

[@markmahan2017]

Yes, that is correct. I served with two VP squadrons, as an acoustic operator. No more P-3s. The P-8 Poseidon is the replacement.

[@Revup1]

It should be noted that the Russian problem of disposing of nuclear submarine reactors is only a magnatude greater than that of disposing of western nuclear subs. Of the 22 nuclear subs the UK has removed from service since 1980 only 9 have been defueled and the first reactor is due for decomissioning this year. All of these retired boats can still be found stored at Rosyth or Devonport. Its a massive problem. I'm a great fan nuclear subs, but they are a pain to get rid of.

[@guyski666]

33:12 - swinging a sledge with just one arm isn't an easy thing to do :)