Date of Incident: 27 January 1961
Returned to Service: No
S-80, a Whiskey-class diesel electric attack submarine that had been converted to carry SS-N-3 "Shaddock" cruise missiles was lost due to flooding. S-80 had been operating at periscope depth in very poor weather, running her diesel engines via her snorkel.
Early in the morning of 27 January, the snorkel became submerged. Unfortunately, the float valve, designed to prevent water from entering the submarine, was apparently stuck in the open position due to ice build-up, and failed to function properly. The initial attempt to stop the water failed because the crewman turned the wrong valve.
As S-80 sank, compartments 2, 3 and 4 were crushed, killing the men in those compartments instantly. S-80 came to rest in 196 meters of water. 24 men survived the accident, but were unable to successfuly evacuate the submarine using the supplied escape equipment.
The wreck was discovered over seven years later, on 23 June, 1968 and raised on 24 July 1969.
(Russian language submarine site http://submarine.id.ru; page http://submarine.id.ru/memory/S80.htm )
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