K-11 was a Soviet November-class (Project 627A) nuclear-powered attack submarine that had two reactor accidents during loading of the nuclear reactor core in Severodvinsk on 7 and 12 February 1965.[1][2] Reasons for the accidents included nonobservance of operating instructions by those participating in the lift of the reactor cover and the mistaken decision to continue refueling after the first accident.[1] There were no fatalities but those accidents (ejection of radioactive steam and inappropriate fire extinguishing methods on 12 February[1]) caused an unsafe release of radiation into the environment and nearby shipyard area. Seven men were treated for exposure to radiation.[3] The reactor compartment holding the two damaged reactors was removed, partially decontaminated and sunk in Abrosimov Bay (east coast of Novaya Zemlya) in the Kara Sea in 1966.[2][3] A new reactor compartment was installed and the submarine continued to perform her duties from August 1968 (performed five long-range cruises in 1968–1970 including patrol missions in the Mediterranean Sea, four long-range cruises in 1975–1977, five long-range cruises in 1982–1985) until decommissioning on 19 April 1990. K-11 passed the milestone of 220,179 miles traveled in 1988. The submarine has been laid up in Gremikha Bay since of 2000.[1]
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Soviet Union | |
| Name | K-11 |
| Laid down | 31 October 1960[1] |
| Launched | 1 September 1961[1] |
| Commissioned | 30 December 1961[1] |
| Decommissioned | 19 April 1990[1] |
| Status | Laid up as of 2000[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | November-class submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 107.4 m (352 ft 4 in) |
| Beam | 7.9 m (25 ft 11 in) |
| Draught | 5.65 m (18 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 × 70 MW VM-A reactors |
| Speed |
|
| Complement | 104 officers and ratings |
| Service record | |
| Part of: | Northern Fleet: 3rd division of nuclear submarines of 1st submarine flotilla in 1962–1975 and 17th submarine division of 11th submarine flotilla since 1975.[1] |