Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Re: GNAT
Posted by:
Brian
()
Date: May 08, 2004 02:21PM
Hi Mike & Robert,
Without going into boring details, I am a former weapons officer. In case of misses, certain electric torpedoes do retain a positive buoyancy and will not always sunk to the bottom, therefore at least some types were fitted with a device to cause their detonation at the end of the run.
This applies to the USN as well. The second reason for fitting self-destruct devices is that the RN experienced problems during WWI with dud hit, where the warhead was breaking off on impact, leaving the body floating for anyone to recover & study. The self destruct would act in such case as a reserve detonator, much like the base fuze of heavy APC shells. Of course, malfunctions happen to everything that goes to sea and may not be opened for maintenance for several weeks, so I'm not surprised if it causes prematures or fails to work completely.....
Regards, Brian
Without going into boring details, I am a former weapons officer. In case of misses, certain electric torpedoes do retain a positive buoyancy and will not always sunk to the bottom, therefore at least some types were fitted with a device to cause their detonation at the end of the run.
This applies to the USN as well. The second reason for fitting self-destruct devices is that the RN experienced problems during WWI with dud hit, where the warhead was breaking off on impact, leaving the body floating for anyone to recover & study. The self destruct would act in such case as a reserve detonator, much like the base fuze of heavy APC shells. Of course, malfunctions happen to everything that goes to sea and may not be opened for maintenance for several weeks, so I'm not surprised if it causes prematures or fails to work completely.....
Regards, Brian
Subject | Written By | Posted |
---|---|---|
GNAT | Michael | 05/05/2004 03:17AM |
Re: GNAT | Brian | 05/05/2004 09:46PM |
Re: GNAT | ROBERT M. | 05/05/2004 11:39PM |
Re: GNAT | Mike | 05/08/2004 09:33AM |
Re: GNAT | Brian | 05/08/2004 02:21PM |
Re: GNAT | ROBERT M. | 05/08/2004 10:24PM |
Re: GNAT | Brian | 05/09/2004 10:38AM |
Re: GNAT | ROBERT M. | 05/09/2004 06:10PM |
Re: GNAT | Sniper | 06/13/2004 03:32AM |
Re: GNAT | Natter | 08/28/2011 05:50PM |