Interesting video clip showing the effect of a torpedo exploding under the keel of a target ship:
By: old shape - 10th August 2008 at 21:06
A torpedo is definitely the way to go for a sure kill. Missiles are not a sure thing depending on where the strike hits. A target ship, the Ashtabula, a retired oiler, shows how hard it is to sink a ship. Granted, it had all fuel removed and therfore wouldn’t burn or explode.
” In all, the oiler was subjected to eight Harpoon missiles, two Standard (SM-2) missiles, three Sea Skua missiles, four bombs from S-3 Vikings, and over 100 rounds of gunfire from 3″, 100mm, and 5″ guns. The ship was then sunk by demolition charges as it refused to sink!!”
Pictures and more data here about half way down the page
http://www.hazegray.org/features/mareisland/
The original clip at the head of post isn’t very good at showing the damage and other stuff we like to see. It was edited by the BBC to fit in a “Drop the dead donkey” slot at the end of the news when nothing else is going on. There are some decent Torp tests on You tube or LiveLeak, search for Type 48 Torpedo and your dreams will be answered.
By: CSheppardholedi - 9th August 2008 at 18:37
A torpedo is definitely the way to go for a sure kill. Missiles are not a sure thing depending on where the strike hits. A target ship, the Ashtabula, a retired oiler, shows how hard it is to sink a ship. Granted, it had all fuel removed and therfore wouldn’t burn or explode.
” In all, the oiler was subjected to eight Harpoon missiles, two Standard (SM-2) missiles, three Sea Skua missiles, four bombs from S-3 Vikings, and over 100 rounds of gunfire from 3″, 100mm, and 5″ guns. The ship was then sunk by demolition charges as it refused to sink!!”
Pictures and more data here about half way down the page
http://www.hazegray.org/features/mareisland/
By: Creaking Door - 2nd August 2008 at 18:44
There seem to be a set of internationally (NATO?) accepted TLA’s (Three Letter Abbreviations :D) for all classes of warship.
I’ve seen the following quoted:
SSN – Ship Submersible Nuclear
SSBN – Ship Submersible Ballistic (Missile Carrying) Nuclear
SSK – Ship Submersible Conventional (Konventional? – Diesel Powered)
I don’t suppose they are all true abbreviations so long as everybody knows them and understands. 😉
By: barrythemod - 29th July 2008 at 13:07
Seems like they have the same advertising agency that handles Oatabix;).
By: sealordlawrence - 29th July 2008 at 13:01
So why don’t they call it a NPAS?
Good question, to which I confess I do not know the answers.
By: barrythemod - 29th July 2008 at 12:59
So why don’t they call it a NPAS?
By: sealordlawrence - 29th July 2008 at 12:55
Wot’s a SSN?
Nuclear powered attack submarine.;)
By: barrythemod - 29th July 2008 at 12:48
Wot’s a SSN?
By: sealordlawrence - 29th July 2008 at 12:43
Frightening how quickly the target went down. I had a cousin who was on HMS Matabele and apparently she went down in a minute or so when she was torpedoed in arctic waters. Suddenly makes a family story more chillingly real – I gather there were only a couple of survivors and I can see why.
Torpedoes against unprotected ships are devastating as the video proves. Even armoured vessels are vulnerable, remember the Belgrano?;) A modern heavy weight homing torpedo will easily break a ships keel and send it to the bottom in very short shrift. The most powerful anti ship asset in the Falklands was not the Exocet but the British SSN’s.
By: Scouse - 29th July 2008 at 00:57
Frightening how quickly the target went down. I had a cousin who was on HMS Matabele and apparently she went down in a minute or so when she was torpedoed in arctic waters. Suddenly makes a family story more chillingly real – I gather there were only a couple of survivors and I can see why.
By: sealordlawrence - 25th July 2008 at 12:37
I’m afraid they are old clunkers..the RAN has had noise problems with them since they were built..they were obsolete before they were even commissioned
The problems are largely solved (after huge expenditure) and they are certainly not obsolete.
By: steve rowell - 25th July 2008 at 10:03
If you are reffering to the Collins class, they are certainly not old clunkers and are amongst the quietest boats out there.
I’m afraid they are old clunkers..the RAN has had noise problems with them since they were built..they were obsolete before they were even commissioned
By: sealordlawrence - 25th July 2008 at 08:22
It was fired from an old diesel clunker of the Aussie navy..if it’d been war time and not a test ..the ship would’ve heard them coming a mile off
If you are reffering to the Collins class, they are certainly not old clunkers and are amongst the quietest boats out there.
By: steve rowell - 25th July 2008 at 01:54
It was fired from an old diesel clunker of the Aussie navy..if it’d been war time and not a test ..the ship would’ve heard them coming a mile off
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July 24, 2008 at 11:29 pm