# Trapped Russian submerine. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 15, 2000, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-russian-submerine/29502 "2000-08-15T22:37:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eyor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@eyor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eyor)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-russian-submerine/29502/1 "2000-08-15T22:37:15Z")
Have you all read about this? There is a Russian submarine trapped 480 feet under water, carrying 116 people. They don’t seem to have the technology to rescue it, but we, that is, the United States, have invested tons of money in this kind of thing and could probably easily rescue all those lives. Are we going to offer to help? Would they ask? They simply say that there is little chance of rescue, and meanwhile there are over 100 lives in jeopardy. Has anyone heard details about this? All I have heard is that details are scarce. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-russian-submerine/29502/2 "2000-08-15T22:41:02Z")
This has been raised twice in General Questions – the longest thread is [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=34591), and there’s another one [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=34696). For what it’s worth, a rescue operation is not “easy”. The Russians have admitted failure in their attempts to resupply the sub with oxygen and to rescue the crew using a diving bell. Poor surface weather, the fact that much of the specialist equipment required is in the Baltic and (most importantly) that the escape hatch is damaged have hampered all efforts so far. There should be enough in the threads mentioned above to give you some more information. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-russian-submerine/29502/3 "2000-08-15T22:48:20Z")
In any case i am against it. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-russian-submerine/29502/4 "2000-08-15T22:56:23Z")
Whatever the outcome, this real-life emergency has “major motion picture script” written all over it. Have any of the trapped sailors made deals for the book and movie rights yet? ---
**Author:** ![eyor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@eyor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eyor)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-russian-submerine/29502/5 "2000-08-15T23:00:31Z")
Thanks, sorry I didnt notice it, I only skimmed through general questions. also, _hits self over head for spelling submarine wrong_ ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-russian-submerine/29502/6 "2000-08-15T23:03:21Z")
No worries, **eyor**. ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-russian-submerine/29502/7 "2000-08-16T00:29:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > \*\*In any case i am against it. \*\* Curious, Sailor. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-russian-submerine/29502/8 "2000-08-16T03:14:04Z")
Im certain the US would help if the Russians let them (it is election year after all) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-russian-submerine/29502/9 "2000-08-16T04:18:21Z")
Perhaps we should deduct the cost of the rescue from this year’s foreign aid payment.