What happens when a submarine goes SUBSUNK?

When a submarine goes SUBSUNK, it typically refers to a submarine that is confirmed to have been lost, often after it has gone inactive for an extended period. During this status, the crew may not have been able to communicate or surface due to various potential issues, including mechanical failure, enemy action, or other emergencies. This loss confirmation is critical for initiating specific rescue protocols and for the allocation of resources to search for and potentially recover the submarine and its crew, emphasizing the serious nature of such incidents.

The other options, while related to various aspects of submarine operations or emergency protocols, do not accurately describe the situation that arises when a submarine is determined to be SUBSUNK. For instance, a routine dive to assess damage would typically occur after an incident where a submarine is still operational, rather than when it is confirmed lost; the activation of a radio beacon for rescue efforts may occur under different circumstances, and complete evacuation of all crew members to the surface is not feasible once a submarine has sunk and is unresponsive. Hence, the confirmation of the vessel's loss is the key element that defines the SUBSUNK status.