A Tribute to the submariners of the Kursk
The sea is indeed cruel and
a hard task master. It exposes those who sail in and on the sea to the
perils of the deep. In the midst of life we are in death and the tragic
circumstances that befell the stricken submarine Kursk resulted in the
loss of the vessel and her entire crew of 118 sailors to a mass grave at
the bottom of the Barents Sea. While life begins at sea, it has ironically
claimed the lives of the crew members of this ill fated submarine.
Now that the worst expectations
are confirmed, one can painfully reflect upon those agonising moments when
there was hope and yet knowing fully well that with each passing day someone
was dying, and finding oneself unable to do a thing about it which is not
easy to imagine - let alone getting used to the idea.
In moments like these, words
have little meaning, but I reach out to the families and loved ones to
offer my heartfelt condolences, prayers and share with them their grief,
sorrow and pray to the Almighty, to give them strength and courage to bear
this irrepairable and untimely loss.
They are not really dead
as long as we remember them. May their souls rest in peace. I call to mind
the words of a Hymn by William
Whiting, and hope that it would bring some solace to those near and
dear.
Yours in grief,
Admiral
O.S. Dawson,(Retd) PVSM, AVSM, Indian Navy.(Click for background)
This Song* called 'Touch
the Sky', is dedicated to the submariners of Kursk. Music (guitar)
is played by Gussy Rikh, Delhi, India.
Please send your comments on the song to Gussy.
*(The song file size is
1.38MB, and you would need to download RealPlayer to listen to it.)
Please Sign the Condolence Guestbook
Kindly View the Condolence Guestbook
Go to The Roster of the Kursk as on 12th August 2000
Hymns for Travellers and the Absent
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the might ocean deep
It's own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Christ, whose voice the waters heard,
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amid the storm didst sleep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Holy Spirit, who didst brood
Upon the waters dark and rude,
And bid their angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
William Whiting, 1825-78 |
Kursk was a Oscar II (Antyey) (Type 949A)(SSGN) Submarine, Number K
141, built at the Severodvinsk Shipyard. She was launched in May 1994,
Commissioned in January 1995 to the Northern Fleet, and on August 12th
2000 at 0730 GMT she died with 118 onboard in the Barents Sea.
Special thanks to Katrin Lawson and BBC News Online for source of the Roster of the Kursk.
YOu may send e-mail messages to Admiral O.S. Dawson
Links to other pages for the Kursk Condolence.
1. Sons of the Northern Fleet
2. Virtual Condolences
Special thanks to my friend Rajiv Chandrabhanu for help in formatting the images.
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