General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Re: USS Scorpion
Posted by:
Jack
()
Date: December 18, 2001 12:44PM
<HTML>Hi Harry,
I read a recent book by Sherry Sontag, the name of it escapes me for the moment. It was about submarines and the Cold War, and recalls numerous exploits of US subs.
She offers detailed insight and informed speculation in support of the self detonation of torpedo theory. Apparently the US Navy had issued a technical bulletin saying that a batch of torpedoes were vulnerable to a battery induced failure mechanism, and they were in the process of eliminating the defect one boat at the time. It just hadn't been Scorpion's turn yet to have the suspect parts changed out. She evens mentions specific id numbers for the torpedo and its guidance system. One of the suspect population of torpedoes was aboard the USS Scorpion.
The gist of that theory is that the batteries of the guidance system were located over the arming and control mechanisms of the torpedo. Apparently the batteries were subject to deterioration while aboard. The theory is that battery acid leaked down onto sensitive parts and caused a torpedo to start up and arm while the boat was on the way to the US from European waters. Based upon triangulation evidence of sound systems on the ocean floor, and the fact that the boat apparently lies on the ocean floor facing the direction it was coming from, the skipper appears to have tried to turn the boat 180 degrees. A safety feature of US torpedoes is to disarm themselves if they return along their base course- recall the USS Tang's self sinking by a circular running torpedo?
For whatever reason, the tactic didn't work. Perhaps something went wrong in trying to load and eject the torpedo, or the acid had already disabled the safety feature. I cannot recall those specific details. Regardless, she has written a book worthy of pursuit and reading.
If you find the book and I've recalled anything wrong, pls advise. It's a sad tale of the death of honorable men defending their country. Sailing on the ocean is a risky business, so sailing under the ocean is indeed a dangerous business!
Thanks,
Jack</HTML>
I read a recent book by Sherry Sontag, the name of it escapes me for the moment. It was about submarines and the Cold War, and recalls numerous exploits of US subs.
She offers detailed insight and informed speculation in support of the self detonation of torpedo theory. Apparently the US Navy had issued a technical bulletin saying that a batch of torpedoes were vulnerable to a battery induced failure mechanism, and they were in the process of eliminating the defect one boat at the time. It just hadn't been Scorpion's turn yet to have the suspect parts changed out. She evens mentions specific id numbers for the torpedo and its guidance system. One of the suspect population of torpedoes was aboard the USS Scorpion.
The gist of that theory is that the batteries of the guidance system were located over the arming and control mechanisms of the torpedo. Apparently the batteries were subject to deterioration while aboard. The theory is that battery acid leaked down onto sensitive parts and caused a torpedo to start up and arm while the boat was on the way to the US from European waters. Based upon triangulation evidence of sound systems on the ocean floor, and the fact that the boat apparently lies on the ocean floor facing the direction it was coming from, the skipper appears to have tried to turn the boat 180 degrees. A safety feature of US torpedoes is to disarm themselves if they return along their base course- recall the USS Tang's self sinking by a circular running torpedo?
For whatever reason, the tactic didn't work. Perhaps something went wrong in trying to load and eject the torpedo, or the acid had already disabled the safety feature. I cannot recall those specific details. Regardless, she has written a book worthy of pursuit and reading.
If you find the book and I've recalled anything wrong, pls advise. It's a sad tale of the death of honorable men defending their country. Sailing on the ocean is a risky business, so sailing under the ocean is indeed a dangerous business!
Thanks,
Jack</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
USS Scorpion
|
Harry | 12/17/2001 11:25PM |
|
Re: USS Scorpion
|
Jack | 12/18/2001 12:44PM |
|
Re: USS Scorpion
|
Harry | 12/18/2001 01:56PM |
|
USS THRESHER
|
Nathan Greenfield | 12/18/2001 11:18PM |
|
Re: USS THRESHER
|
Captain George W. Duffy | 12/18/2001 11:50PM |
|
Re: USS THRESHER
|
Harry | 12/19/2001 12:16PM |
|
Re: USS THRESHER
|
Steve Cooper | 12/19/2001 04:16PM |
|
Re: USS THRESHER
|
Harry | 12/19/2001 05:36PM |
|
Re: USS THRESHER
|
Jack | 12/19/2001 10:26PM |
|
Re: USS THRESHER
|
Jack | 12/19/2001 04:28PM |
|
Re: USS THRESHER
|
Ken Dunn | 12/19/2001 07:22PM |
|
Re: USS Scorpion
|
Me 109g | 12/18/2001 11:41PM |
|
Re: USS Scorpion
|
Captain George W. Duffy | 12/18/2001 01:55PM |