Russian submarine carried nuclear weapons when it sank, say experts

The Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kursk had atomic weapons on board when it sank in the Arctic last year, experts have announced.

The Kursk sank off northwestern Russia during training exercises on 12 August, killing all 118 aboard. Russian officials repeatedly told Norway's military that the submarine, one of Russia's most modern, was carrying only non-nuclear practice weapons.

But a member of the Russian government investigating commission, Grigory Tomchin, told Norway's TV-2 that the submarine was carrying atomic weapons. "That has been known for a long time," he said.

Mr Tomchin, who is also a Russian lawmaker, said he was tired of the secrecy about the wreck and encouraged the military to be more open.

Harald Ramfjord, a Norwegian engineer who has been central in planning the proposed salvage of the Kursk, said he too had seen secret Russian documents confirming the presence of atomic weapons.

"One of the documents I had access to said there were two atomic missiles on board and that was stamped secret," said Mr Ramfjord, who works for the Global Tool Management offshore oil industry group.

Dmitry Burmistov, a Russian navy spokesman, said he had no comment on the television report and officials at the Northern Fleet could not be reached.

TV-2 reported that Nato's designation for the missiles is SS N-19 Shipwrecks, with 500 kiloton nuclear warheads.

The Kursk Foundation has been set up to pay for raising the Kursk this summer, but negotiations on finding the $NZ172 million that it is expected to cost are still continuing.

Russia's Finance Minister, Alexei Kudrin, said that the government would raise the sunken submarine even if the foundation failed to share the costs.

The cause of the Kursk disaster has not been determined. Many experts suspect one of its torpedoes exploded.

- INDEPENDENT