One sentence, many submarine questions

Nov. 25, 2009 (4 days have now elapsed) - Future updates will appear here.

NEWS UPDATE: 11/23/09 - EURASIANET.ORG - [bold and color emphases added] -
Russian military officials described the sub’s problem as minor, but added that the vessel could not make it to its home port, Sevastopol, on Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. It was towed to the nearer port of Novorossiysk on November 23, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.
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The same article states: [The Alrosa was] Made in 1988, the sub had a role in a 1997 Jackie Chan film, the Kommersant daily reported.
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M.E.: - The update leaves little doubt of a major failure and attempted cover-up. Consider that the problem was described as minor, but the sub was towed to the nearer port. For first world countries, even some Canadians should agree, a commissioned military submarine dead in the water must always be considered a major problem.

The Alrosa, a Project 877 Kilo class submarine, was towed on the surface to Novorossiisk after its jet propulsion system failed, it has been reported.
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Russian language Alrosa web page here.

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Kilos are considered one of the quieter diesel submarines. Project 636 Kilo subs have been nicknamed The Black Holes by the Navy due to an uncanny ability to "disappear".[1]

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What could have happened to the Alrosa's pump-jet system: the lampshade inlet (photo below) may have fouled or, worse, the assembly may have partially detached. Consider the strange report about surface towing the sub. The confusion may reflect efforts to hide damage from satellites by keeping a damaged upper lampshade under water during tow.

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Whatever happened, no sailors were reportedly injured, this time. That is very fortunate, but it may have become just as difficult to believe.

Submarines are always silent and strange.