Naval reactor accidents causing radiation casualties

Database of radiological incidents and related events--Johnston's Archive

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 30 May 2008

This is a listing of Soviet naval reactor accidents resulting in acute radiation casualties. It is a subset of the Database of Radiological Incidents and Related Events. Links in the table are to more detailed incident summaries. See note on Frequently asked questions page regarding 1976 K-386 accident.

Notes on table:

code: coding for type of accident. See this page for list of codes.
highest dose: highest dose to any individual; in cases of more than one casualty, most doses were significantly lower. "L" indicates casualties involving localized exposures. "N" indicates the individual(s) receiving the highest dose died from effects other than ionizing radiation.
deaths: figures are for ionizing radiation-induced deaths only; parenthetical figures include those from other effects (e.g. thermal and mechanical results of explosions).
public: codes indicating case involved known exposure to the public (i.e. non-employees). See this page for list of codes.
source: radioisotope involved, if known. See this page for list of codes.
release: radioactive release into the environment, if any; for point events (e.g. criticality accidents or nuclear detonations), activity is for 1 hour after event.

date location/link to entry type of accident/event code highest dose (rem) deaths injuries public source release

13 Oct 1960 K-8 submarine, Barents Sea reactor leak A-NR 200 0 3

04 Jul 1961 K-19 submarine, North Atlantic reactor accident A-NR 6,000 8 31

12 Feb 1965 K-11 submarine, Severodvinsk, USSR accident during refueling of naval reactor A-NR ? 0 7 ?

24 May 1968 K-27 submarine, Barents Sea naval reactor accident A-NR ? 9 83

18 Jan 1970 Sormovo, Russia, USSR construction accident on submarine nuclear reactor A-NR ? 3 2

28 Dec 1978 K-171 submarine, Pacific Ocean submarine reactor accident A-NR ? 3

1979 USSR nuclear submarine, unknown location submarine reactor accident A-NR ? 0 4

10 Aug 1985 K-431 submarine, Chazhma Bay, Vladivostok, Russia, USSR reactor accident during refueling A-NR 220 0 (10) 49 ~1 kCi

date	location/link to entry	type of accident/event	code	highest dose (rem)	deaths	injuries	release
13 Oct 1960	K-8 submarine, Barents Sea	reactor leak	A-NR	200	0	3
04 Jul 1961	K-19 submarine, North Atlantic	reactor accident	A-NR	6,000	8	31
12 Feb 1965	K-11 submarine, Severodvinsk, USSR	accident during refueling of naval reactor	A-NR	?	0	7	?
24 May 1968	K-27 submarine, Barents Sea	naval reactor accident	A-NR	?	9	83
18 Jan 1970	Sormovo, Russia, USSR	construction accident on submarine nuclear reactor	A-NR	?	3	2
28 Dec 1978	K-171 submarine, Pacific Ocean	submarine reactor accident	A-NR	?	3
1979	USSR nuclear submarine, unknown location	submarine reactor accident	A-NR	?	0	4
10 Aug 1985	K-431 submarine, Chazhma Bay, Vladivostok, Russia, USSR	reactor accident during refueling	A-NR	220	0 (10)	49	~1 kCi

© 2007, 2008 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 30 May 2008.
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