Navy Attack Submarine USS Grayling Collided With a Russian Submarine Carrying 16 Nuclear Missiles 105 Miles North of Murmansk in 1993, and Both Sides Swept It Under the Rug

On March 20, 1993, the U.S. Navy’s Sturgeon-class attack submarine USS Grayling collided with the Russian Delta IV ballistic missile submarine Novomoskovsk in the Barents Sea, about 105 nautical miles north of Murmansk. The ships were submerged and Grayling was shadowing Novomoskovsk during routine training. According to the account, Grayling lost track of the Russian submarine and struck its starboard bow, causing minor damage to both vessels. Novomoskovsk reportedly carried 16 nuclear missiles, but no crew members were injured. The incident was met with strong concern from Russia’s defense ministry, though it did not identify the U.S. as responsible. Despite the potential Cold War implications, the two sides reportedly let the episode fade without major escalation.