On Apr. 8, 1970 during a Soviet exercise named Okean the submarine K-8 caught fire not far from Land's End
in the North Atlantic. The fire, origins still unknown to the western world, were confined in two compartments
and the crew battled the blaze gallantly, but to no avail. The two reactors were shut down and the crew finally
had to abandon her, all 52 got out safely.

This however did not please the higher up's in the Soviet Navy, who seemed to have little regard for the life of
a sailor, and they were ordered to reboard the boat and have her towed to port. On Apr. 11 while in the Bay of
Biscay a storm caused the stricken submarine to sink taking all 52 to their deaths.

© 2008 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com