General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Re: Ubersee Sud - Sinking of the Cruiser BahÃa
Posted by:
geoffreybrooks
()
Date: December 24, 2007 06:46PM
Dear Paul
The item requested appears as an article by Vicealmirante Saldanha da Gama and Almirante Hélio Leóncio Martins in the official Brazilian Navy journal "Navigator" No 15. in which the admirals wrote:
"The manuals stated that the small charges of trotyl in the 20-mm projectiles are incapable of detonating depth charges no matter from where fired. In reference to tests on depth charges using a 20-mm Oerlikon in which to the surprise of the experts and contrary to the manuals the charges exploded (the "BahÃa" case, 1945), the experts suggested that the test was rigged. They were also doubtful that the potential damage from one depth charge would have been sufficient to blow off the stern of the cruiser taking into account that the charge was not directed and would have lost 90% of its force upwards."
It seems from the account above that only one depth charge on the BahÃa poop exploded, and the Brazilian experts were not convinced that one depth charge could do all the damage from stem to stern reported by Lt Torres Dias. That demolishes the last hope and brings into play the third and final theory. I do not propose to pursue it here.
The item requested appears as an article by Vicealmirante Saldanha da Gama and Almirante Hélio Leóncio Martins in the official Brazilian Navy journal "Navigator" No 15. in which the admirals wrote:
"The manuals stated that the small charges of trotyl in the 20-mm projectiles are incapable of detonating depth charges no matter from where fired. In reference to tests on depth charges using a 20-mm Oerlikon in which to the surprise of the experts and contrary to the manuals the charges exploded (the "BahÃa" case, 1945), the experts suggested that the test was rigged. They were also doubtful that the potential damage from one depth charge would have been sufficient to blow off the stern of the cruiser taking into account that the charge was not directed and would have lost 90% of its force upwards."
It seems from the account above that only one depth charge on the BahÃa poop exploded, and the Brazilian experts were not convinced that one depth charge could do all the damage from stem to stern reported by Lt Torres Dias. That demolishes the last hope and brings into play the third and final theory. I do not propose to pursue it here.
Array
Sorry, you can't reply to this topic. It has been closed.