HANNIFIN, Patrick J., VADM

Larry King Live discussion with Vice Admiral Patrick J. Hannifin

Courtesy transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/21/lkl.00.html
Edited by David Barth 16 May 2012.

Aired August 21, 2000 - 9:00 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight: . . . an update on the [Kursk] submarine tragedy at the bottom of the sea: Vice Admiral Patrick Hannifin, U.S. Navy, retired, joins us from San Diego. They're all next on LARRY KING LIVE.

Before we get into politics, let's go down to San Diego and join Vice Admiral Patrick Hannifin, United States Navy, retired nearly 35 years of submarine service -- has been with us almost nightly reporting and analyzing all the events that took place in the Barents Sea -- and still taking place. Apparently, it is history now. We can say, Vice Admiral, can we not, that there are no survivors?

RET. VICE ADM. PATRICK HANNIFIN, U.S. NAVY: That is fairly certainly now. We are off with rescue and on with any kind of salvage operations that they may want to undertake.

KING: Now, when they went down, they found that the hatch was able to be opened. There were reports that it wasn't. Since it was able to be opened, why couldn't people get out?

HANNIFIN: Well, they can't get out unless there is something to get into. And they were unable to get the rescue bell, or rescue pod, in place and a good seal. They would have to -- that is quite an operation -- and they really weren't able to accomplish it. Only they divers were down to get the hatch open when they discovered there was still no air in there.

KING: With hindsight, of course, as our benefit, had this occurred earlier -- the British, the Norwegians -- had they been called immediately, might there have been a possibility of rescue?

HANNIFIN: I doubt it. I...

KING: Because?

HANNIFIN: No. I think that the explosion -- the second explosion especially, was very, very massive, and probably blew clear through the submarine and ruptured at least most of the bulkheads and probably enough to force water clear back into all of the compartments.

KING: United States...

HANNIFIN: There was an outside chance, but that is about all.

KING: United States hasn't lost a sub, I think, in 30 years. Could this have happened to the American fleet?

HANNIFIN: Well it could have, although in 350 feet of water, I would think that we would be able to get there in ample time. And of course, we have the PSRVs, rescue vessels, that can fit and mate with our submarines readily. We could have accomplished it.

KING: The Russians are asking the Norwegians for continued help in finding bodies.

HANNIFIN: Yes.

KING: Don't many men who die at sea stay that way? Isn't there some kind of code in the Navy where it stays a burial at sea?

HANNIFIN: Well, to certain extent. But as you recall, when we raised that Gulf submarine in the Pacific, there were Russian bodies. And we gave them a burial ashore, a proper one.

KING: Is there danger in this rescue? Might they not be a able to do it?

HANNIFIN: Well, there is there is always danger when you are working underwater and particularly in a ship that has been so badly damaged as this one is. But most of these divers are pretty experienced. And I'm sure that they will be able to put -- I hope they will be able to put some sort of robots down inside to see what the condition is before they send the divers down themselves, because over 350 feet is pretty severe diving.

KING: Now, the Kursk, the name of the ship, is relatively accessible. We understand it's upright on the flat bottom of a continental shelf. Can that ship be raised?

HANNIFIN: Can it do what?

KING: Be raised?

HANNIFIN: Be raised? Oh, yes, it can. But, you are looking at 24,000 tons. And it's an enormous task, particularly in those waters where the weather is never very pleasant. It's a great undertaking and it would an enormous amount of money.

KING: It has never been confirmed, but it has been reported that the Russians did salvage a nuclear sub in the '70s. Is that -- do you do know if that was true?

HANNIFIN: I don't know that that is true. It is a possibility. But most of their losses were in deep water.

KING: Any danger in having that wreckage on the bottom of the sea?

HANNIFIN: I don't think so. They are concerned that this is shallower than the others that have been lost but, with regard to Thresher -- our ship, which was the first of our nuclear subs that was lost in about 8,000 feet -- we have gone back periodically and checked and found no radiation hazard. Just a couple years ago, it was out last check, I believe.

KING: Is this the corrosion of a once mighty military machine, or is this the sign that maybe that machine was overrated?

HANNIFIN: Well, I don't think their submarines were overrated, but I think they have been neglected badly, as most of their military has: no parts, no proper parts. And it is a pretty bad situation there as far as military is concerned. The amount of money that they put into it is far less than is necessary to keep those ships properly and safely running.

KING: Criticism of the government -- Putin stayed on vacation -- is it is warranted?

HANNIFIN: Well, I'm not sure what else he could do. But, that -- I was not surprised at the initial Soviet response that is -- sort of hearkens back to the Cold War days when they tried to deny at first that it happened and then try to cover it up.

KING: When something like this happens because of the uniqueness of a submarine, is there a kind of a mourning all over the submarine community?

HANNIFIN: Oh, certainly, there is. There is a bond among submariners from one country to another that probably doesn't exist anyplace else because of our -- the kind of work that we do, where we share these kinds of experiences, and the danger, and the fact that we work and live in a completely different world under a sea that is not very forgiving.

KING: You think there is a chance -- if there is a chance of getting bodies, they will get them?

HANNIFIN: I think they will. They want to. And I think it is appropriate to do that if that is that is the way the Soviets feel -- the Russians feel -- and I think it is a dangerous operation, they will do what they can, I'm sure.

KING: Thank you, Admiral, you have been of immeasurable help every night. We appreciate it.

HANNIFIN: Thank you.

KING: Vice Admiral Patrick Hannifin, United States Navy, retired nearly 35 years -- been reporting to us every night since we learned of this tragedy.