SEVEROMORSK, Russia. Sept 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The submarine that sank on August 30 was one of two Russian nuclear-powered subs that were being towed to port for scrapping, and this delayed rescue operations as the vessel that remained on the surface misled rescue parties, the Navy said.
The crew were ordered to leave the K-159 submarine 40 minutes before it sank, a Northern Fleet command spokesman told Interfax-Military News Agency.