CNN's Mike Hanna on rescue efforts for the stranded Russian submarine

(CNN) -- A 14,000-ton Oscar II-class Russian submarine sank to the bottom of the Berents Sea after an, as yet, undetermined mishap. Attempts to rescue the 116 sailors trapped aboard were hampered by bad weather. The Kursk lay trapped at a depth of 107 meters (350 feet), approximately 85 miles from the Russian naval base of Severomorsk, before new rescue efforts were mounted Tuesday.

Mike Hanna is a senior correspondent for CNN, based in the network's Frankfurt bureau. Named to this position with the opening of the bureau in 1999, he reports on international breaking news from Central Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Chat Moderator: Good morning, Mike Hanna. Thank you for joining us today.

Mike Hanna: Good morning to everybody.

Chat Moderator: What is the latest news about the sunken Russian submarine? Have rescue efforts begun?

Mike Hanna: The authorities say the rescue mission is underway. The chief of the Russian Navy says the operation will be in full swing around tonight, Russian time. That's in about five and one-half hours.

Question from Atlanta: Mike, how likely is it, really, that this Russian nuclear submarine deployed WITHOUT nuclear missiles on board?

Mike Hanna: The Russian Naval authority and the Russian government remain insistent that there were no nuclear weapons on board the boat. Several naval experts, however, are skeptical, saying it is unlikely that the submarine would put to sea without any nuclear warhead.

Question from Nony: How are they planning to get people out of the sub if the rescue hatch is supposedly rammed into the ground?

Mike Hanna: According to several reports, the upper rescue hatch is accessible to a rescue vessel. The difficulty is that the submarine is said to be tilted at a 60-degree angle, which means a submersible rescue vessel will have to slide across the hull in order to lock into the escape hatch.

Question from Paul: Hi, Mike. Why did Russia initially refuse our aid?

Mike Hanna: The chief of the Russian Navy says Russia has all it needs to conduct a successful rescue. The problem, he says, is not the available equipment, but weather conditions.

Question from Tulsa: Any word on the source of the collision or explosion?

Mike Hanna: There has been no confirmation as to what, exactly, caused the accident. There has been speculation that there was an explosion in the bow of the craft. But the Russian Navy says a full investigation still has to take place.

Question from If: How deep is the sub underwater?

Mike Hanna: The Navy says the submarine is lying 108 meters below the surface. That is well over 300 feet.

MESSAGE BOARD Submarine rescue     RESOURCES Comparative size of stranded sub. Submarine position underwater Details of the Kursk CNN Cold War Special: The frightening world of nuclear accidents

Question from MaryG: Is it true that the name of this sub is the CURSE?

Mike Hanna: The name of the sub is Kursk. It was commissioned only five years ago and, at 155 meters long, is one of the largest vessels in the Russian Navy.

Question from If: Is there any chance of a salvage operation, such as with the CIA salvage using the Glomar Explorer?

Mike Hanna: The naval authorities say their primary efforts are to rescue the crew. But, considering the depth of the submarine, it may be possible to salvage the vessel.

Question from Genie2: Mike Hanna, I think that the U.S. subs have two escape hatches but Russian ones have only one, near the torpedo area. Do you know if that is true in this case?

Mike Hanna: We are not sure about the exact specifications of this Oscar-class sub, but from the information we're receiving from the Navy, it does appear that there is more than one escape hatch.

Question from Java: Any report on the condition of the crew?

Mike Hanna: The Navy says there is no radio communication, that they are communicating through what is described as acoustic signals. But there has been no confirmation from the Navy that there are any injuries among the crew.

Question from Switch625: Mr. Hanna, it seems the Russians aren't as interested in getting their guys out as I'd like to feel the United States would be, if it was our men down there. Is this just appearance, or is there really a difference in how our countries react to this type of thing?

Mike Hanna: Every indication we have had from both the Russian Navy and the Russian government is that the rescue of the crew is all-important.

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Mike Hanna.

Mike Hanna: Thanks to everyone for joining in the chat.

Check out the CNN Chat calendar
Post your opinion on our message boards

First rescue attempt fails for sailors trapped in sunken Russian sub
8/15/00
Russian submarine rescue attempt under way in Arctic waters
8/15/00
The Cold War: Broken Arrows