Was Kursk sunk by USS Memphis?

Question

On of the theories in the Kursk incident suggest that it was sunk by USS Memphis following the collision with USS Toledo. Theory has originally surfaced in 2005 film, but lately allegedly there are some leaks from Russian Navy officers confirming it.

French filmmaker Jean-Michel Carré, in Kursk: a Submarine in Troubled Waters, which aired on 7 January 2005 on French TV channel France 2, alleged that Kursk sank because of a sequence of events triggered by a collision with a US submarine. Carré claimed that Shkval torpedo tests were being observed by two US submarines on duty in the region: USS Toledo and USS Memphis. According to his version, these observations eventually led to a collision between USS Toledo and Kursk. Carré theorized that neither of the subs was seriously damaged in this incident, but the sound of the collision, combined with sounds of loaded torpedo tubes, made the captain of USS Memphis believe that Kursk was preparing an attack on USS Toledo, so he launched a pre-emptive strike against Kursk with a MK-48 torpedo. According to Carré, this attack was successful and was the cause of the powerful explosion within Kursk's hull, sinking the submarine and leaving Memphis and Toledo slightly damaged. Carré claimed that specific damage visible on the Kursk hull was the main evidence of this version, including signs of an initial collision, and a hole left by the torpedo when it entered the Kursk hull. He also claimed that a damaged submarine was sighted leaving the Kursk incident area, and USS Memphis was sighted soon afterwards being repaired in a Norwegian port.

In below screen capture you can see a round hole, which allegedly is point where torpedo penetrated the hull.

Question:

• is there any indication that collision actually happened?
• is there any possibility that it was sunk by Mk-48 fired by USS Memphis?

Answer 1

There some additional photos of this round hole at this page (in russian):

Good quality shoot from unknown source. Text in russian is: "А что значит это отверстие в правом боку подводной лодки" - "And what is meaning of this hole in right side of the submarine". It is clearly seen that hole has very sharp edges on its top and left sides. Also we can see that hole is not round in its low-right side (as it was required in comments, taken from other angle):

This is a copy from the TV-film discussed ("Kursk: a Submarine in Troubled Waters"):

This photo is labelled: "пресс-центр ГП РФ"; "ГП РФ" is abbreviation for "Генеральная Прокуратура Российской Федерации", so "Press-center of Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation" (press center of Federal Attorney of Russia):

This photo has date mark on it "24' 4'02" = 24.04.2002 and text "район прочного корпуса напротив которого отверстие в легком корпусе. никаких пробоин нет" = "region of strong hull (=inner hull=pressure hull) opposite of which hole in light hull (=external hull) /is located/. There are no any breaches":

And finally is frame with labels "росляково. мурманская область. РТР". It has label of Russian federal channel RTR. According to the page, Carre says that this hole was not shown on TV, but it was:

There is interesting phrase on military history forum "vif2ne":

От  tevolga 
К    All    
Дата    31.10.2001 11:06:44 
Рубрики Современность; Флот;    
Круглая дырка на Курске

Главком пояснил, что ее вырезали водолазы еще в прошлом году, никакого 
отношения ни к возможному столкновению, ни к торпедированию не имеет. Ее
теперь заварят, что бы не было более досужих вымыслов:-)))

C уважением к сообществу.

From: tevolga; To: All; Date: 31.10.2001 11:06:44; Rubrics: Modernity, Fleet

Subject: Round hole on Kursk

Commander-in-chief /of the Navy/ clarified that hole was cut by divers early as in previous year /2000/, no any relation is possible to hypothetical collision or to torpedo attack. The hole will be welded now to limit more of myths :-)))

With respect to the community.

Other phrase is on federal newspaper forum

Александр _Покровский, 11 август 2012 в 09:24
В "Рубине" мне сказали насчет того отверстия: был технологический разрез.

Alexander Pokrovsky, 11 August, 2012 at 09:24

In "Rubin" (=Rubin Design Bureau, operator of the Raising operation of Kursk) I was told about this hole: was technological incision

The newspaper "Независимая Газета" directly says in 2001-11-01:

Круглое отверстие на стыке первого и второго отсеков, которое наблюдали 
миллионы телезрителей во время демонстрации видеофильма Главной военной 
прокуратуры, оказывается, имеет искусственное происхождение: часть корпуса 
по просьбе главкома вырезали еще в прошлом году. Когда ее в интересах 
следствия поставят на место, многое прояснится, намекнул Владимир Куроедов.

Round hole between first and second compartments, which was seen by millions of TV viewers at the time of airing of film by Chief Military Prosecutor Office, turns out to have artificial origin: part of hull was cut in previous year (=2000) at the request of the Commander-in-chief /of the Navy/ (=Vladimir Kuroedov). When it will be returned in place for investigative purposes, much may become clearer, Kuroedov hinted.

Answer 2

A torpedo does NOT penetrate the hull of a target vessel, it will have a proximity fuse with possible backup contact fuse and probably a timer fuse as well. So that's one claim already debunked.

Wikipedia on the Mark 48 Torpedo

Can't find independent verification of this (it's most likely classified what exact fuzing modes exist), but it is consistent with knowledge I have accumulated over the years about torpedoes from several post-WW2 designs (WW2 and earlier designs typically used contact fuses).

This DOT&E report mentions "influence fuzing", meaning magnetic, acoustic, etc. rather than impact or time delay.

The MK 48 ADCAP torpedo is a submarine launched, heavyweight acoustic homing torpedo with sophisticated sonar and an influence-fuzed warhead. The improved ADCAP torpedo includes all digital guidance and control systems, digital fusing systems, and propulsion improvements, which add speed, depth, and range capability. The Mk 48 class torpedoes are the Navy's only submarine launched torpedoes used for engagement of submarine and surface targets, contributing significantly to the submarines' precision engagement. They are also essential to the force protection role of submarines. There are a number of upgrades to the ADCAP torpedo discussed in the following paragraphs.
Every seemingly interesting bit of detail ends after a few words with: More details are provided in the classified version of this report.

This Powerpoint presentation (unreferenced, but with photographs) shows the effect of a Mk.48 torpedo detonating to sink an old frigate. Compare the damage done by the warhead exploding under the ship to the supposed "entry hole" :)

As to the collision claim, collisions between submarines have happened in the past so might have happened here, but are highly unlikely to lead to the ships sinking. And if one were to sink, I'd expect the smaller, lighter built one to sink which would be the US submarine. (The Kursk is a lot larger than a US (or Soviet/Russian) fast attack sub.)