In 2017, the Indian Navy grappled with an incident of staggering magnitude. The INS Arihant, a crowning jewel of India’s naval capabilities, experienced near-catastrophe when a crew member neglected to secure a hatch. This error resulted in seawater flooding the vessel’s propulsion compartment, incapacitating the submarine for almost a year as it underwent extensive repairs, the monetary cost of which was overshadowed only by the potential cost to national security and pride.
This mishap brought to light the vulnerabilities inherent in even the most advanced vessels. The Arihant, valued at nearly $3 billion and designed to carry up to a dozen K-15 short-range or K-4 intermediate-range nuclear missiles, found itself helpless in the calm waters of a harbor, its formidable weapons rendered moot by a simple mistake. As stated in a report, “the entire process took ten months.”
The open starboard hatch allowed seawater to flood into the hull, nearly sinking the submarine and requiring nearly a year of repairs in dry dock. The water damaged the propulsion compartment, and many of the 6,000-ton submarine’s pipes—which carry pressurized water coolant to and from the boat’s 83-megawatt nuclear reactor—had to be cut open and replaced.
The tales of maritime misfortune span centuries, from the Swedish Vasa in the 17th century, toppled by a harsh wind on its maiden voyage, to the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) running afoul of Bishop Rock in 1985, and even a German U-boat sabotaged by a malfunctioning toilet during World War II. Yet, the Arihant’s blunder seemed particularly striking due to the submarine’s technological prowess and the expectation of impeccable operation in modern military assets.
Despite the magnitude of the error and the subsequent attempts to keep the incident under wraps, the Indian Navy sought to move forward, drawing lessons from the mishap. “Despite the rough start, INS Arihant has proven to be a reliable submarine,” noted an account, affirming its successful launch of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) after the incident.
Relevant articles:
– How to Sink a $3 Billion Dollar Submarine: Leave a Hatch Open, The National Interest
– How To Sink A $3 Billion Dollar Submarine: Leave A Hatch Open, 19FortyFive
– How to Sink a $3 Billion Nuclear Missile Submarine: Leave a Hatch Open by Mistake, nationalinterest.org