Experts support the hypothesis of an emergency in the torpedo compartment.

A torpedo about to be launched was found faulty and its liquid-fuel engine caught fire in the process of the torpedo replacement. Temperature in the compartment rose to 3,000 degrees and engines of other torpedoes began exploding one after another.

The NATO submarine stalking the Kursk must have sustained considerable damage as well.

President Putin was misinformed about the scope of the tragedy to the very end even though Academician Igor Baranov, designer of nuclear submarines with guided missiles, said the following day it was a no-survivor type of catastrophe.

Kursk designers blame a poorly trained crew and improper maintenance.