This is unlikely. The sub has multiple (like seven I think) different ways of resurfacing, some of which are purely mechanical and work even with a complete power failure. It could’ve got trapped in a fishing net, but it would still be pinging in that case. There are only really two other scenarios: it’s resurfaced and is bobbing around in the sea (unlikely) or the pressure vessel failed and it was instantly crushed to the size of a tin can.
Edit: Also, running out of oxygen in a situation like this isn’t horrible. The BBC once did a documentary about the most humane way to execute people and it settled on nitrogen-induced hypoxia. Here’s the part where the presenter (a former British politician) experiences hypoxia: https://vimeo.com/83750163#t=2235s
Nitrogen-induced hypoxia is painless, but in a sub like that CO2 might turn out to be a big problem, and that is not painless.
But yeah, the pressure vessel is (or, probably, was) fiberglass. It’s cheap to use but once it cracks it’ll absolutely shatter – this is why “real” subs tend to use metal – and that’s pretty much what I assume has happened. Either that or they’ve been bobbing on the surface with their air slowly running out, because the hatch can’t be opened from the inside.
This is unlikely. The sub has multiple (like seven I think) different ways of resurfacing, some of which are purely mechanical and work even with a complete power failure. It could’ve got trapped in a fishing net, but it would still be pinging in that case. There are only really two other scenarios: it’s resurfaced and is bobbing around in the sea (unlikely) or the pressure vessel failed and it was instantly crushed to the size of a tin can.
Edit: Also, running out of oxygen in a situation like this isn’t horrible. The BBC once did a documentary about the most humane way to execute people and it settled on nitrogen-induced hypoxia. Here’s the part where the presenter (a former British politician) experiences hypoxia: https://vimeo.com/83750163#t=2235s
Nitrogen-induced hypoxia is painless, but in a sub like that CO2 might turn out to be a big problem, and that is not painless.
But yeah, the pressure vessel is (or, probably, was) fiberglass. It’s cheap to use but once it cracks it’ll absolutely shatter – this is why “real” subs tend to use metal – and that’s pretty much what I assume has happened. Either that or they’ve been bobbing on the surface with their air slowly running out, because the hatch can’t be opened from the inside.