I personally think the "collision" scenario is Russian PR spin that may play well with some of their constituents at home. A collision with another ship (sub)followed by an exlposion would have done just as much damage to the other vessel and would have left it foundering or on the bottom also. The presence of a large underwater mesa would be obvious on everybody's sonar. It seems improbable that a 400 foot ship running into a beluga whale would trigger such a disaster. I guess two subs exchanging torpedo volleys can't be totally ruled out (Russian/Norwegian, or perhaps a Russian/Russian friendly fire exchange). A torpedo malfunction seems more likely. The initial explosion would set off the remainder of the asenal in a bigger second explosion. Today's CNN reports from the head of the Russion navy indicated that forward damage was much more severe than earlier reports and that they don't have any real hope for survivors. Even the rear escape hatch suffered some damage (see the posts above about doors and hatches). It is likely that most of the sailors were killed in the initial explosions. Russian TV has scrolled the names of the lost sailors. I had heard earlier in the week that the US sub rescue equipment was stationed in California, so the British equipment was much closer by sea or by air.

I hope the families of the sailors get some straight answers.

rich r