Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Re: Torpedo explosive force
Posted by:
Patrick Meagher
()
Date: November 19, 2002 03:54AM
to my knowledge there is not. Years ago in USN Torpedoman training there was a general "rule of thumb" that referenced the brisance of TNT. For example pound for pound Torpex brisance was 150% of TNT. The follow-on to Torpex, HBX was even more. there may be something like a formula in the archives of BuWeps.
There is an interesting discussion on the development of RDX and Torpex by the USN in a book by Robert Gannon entitled "Hellions of the Deep the Development of American Torpedoes in World War II." His description of the development of these explosives indicates a lot of trial and error with some mysterious explosions at Naval Magazines and possibly loss of some U S submarines due to the same types of explosions along the way. As it turned out according to Gannon, Bees Wax was the key ingredient for stability of torpex. Can you imagine organizing those bees to produce more wax for torpedo warheads?
By the way, I have an interesting sequence of 13 8 x 12 photos of the sinking of the ex-USS Sea Devil SS-400 in 1964 by a Mark 14 Mod 5 torpedo. If they will scan would you be interested in seeing them? Certainly a graphic demonstration of "brisance."
There is an interesting discussion on the development of RDX and Torpex by the USN in a book by Robert Gannon entitled "Hellions of the Deep the Development of American Torpedoes in World War II." His description of the development of these explosives indicates a lot of trial and error with some mysterious explosions at Naval Magazines and possibly loss of some U S submarines due to the same types of explosions along the way. As it turned out according to Gannon, Bees Wax was the key ingredient for stability of torpex. Can you imagine organizing those bees to produce more wax for torpedo warheads?
By the way, I have an interesting sequence of 13 8 x 12 photos of the sinking of the ex-USS Sea Devil SS-400 in 1964 by a Mark 14 Mod 5 torpedo. If they will scan would you be interested in seeing them? Certainly a graphic demonstration of "brisance."
