As Russia backtracked on its decision not to permit foreign assistance, the change of tactics in asking for help from Norway and Britain has added to the political pressure on President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Putin remained on holiday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi as the plight of the Kursk's crew became a national agony, with extensive reporting on Russia's three main television networks as a British mini submarine and divers from Norway prepared to join the rescue effort.
The disaster may cost Russia's government dearly in popular approval as media attention has switched from the technical aspects of the rescue towards the concerns of relatives of the sailors, and questions about the accident. "Everybody here has a relative who is at sea, they all feel the tragedy," said Vladimir Nikolayevich, acting chief editor at Murmanski Vestnik, the local newspaper in Murmansk, the submarine's base.
Many Russians are turning grief into anger at officials who, they believe, could have done more, quicker. A poll in Segodnya newspaper yesterday showed 85 per cent of respondents thought that the decision to delay foreign help was wrong.
The Izvestiya newspaper wrote: "If we are unable to bring our people up to the surface, why not ask the Americans? We must show national pride but not senseless national arrogance."
Mr Putin, who enjoyed a 73 per cent approval rating a few weeks ago, may have made a misjudgment in not returning from holiday to oversee the crisis personally.
But last night there was no sign of Mr Putin cutting short his holiday to take charge of the rescue mission.