A lot lost at sea. (Russian submarines)

A lot lost at sea

SUBMARINES have always been dangerous contraptions. Most countries that operate them have had disasters. The Soviet Union has by far the biggest submarine fleet in the world and seems to have a lot of trouble. But the loss of the M-class submarine in the Norwegian Sea on April 7th only puts the Soviet Union about on a par with the United States in losses of nuclear-powered submarines. As far as is known, the Russians have now lost three; the United States, which has fewer, has lost two.

In the West the first sign that the M-boat was in trouble seems to have come from a report, monitored by Norway in the afternoon of April 7th, of a fire on board. …