General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
RE: modern torpedoes and a modern tonnage war
Posted by:
kurt
()
Date: August 15, 2001 09:11PM
<HTML>Like I said, not that this is a likely scenario.
Of course China might use subs to stop US shipping! Subs are the reffered weapon of the naval underdog.
As for using Tomahawks, these carry the same sized or even smaller warheads than torpedoes, and hit above the waterline, not below it. The \'below the belt\' blow of a torpedo is what makes it so much more lethal than an above the waterline shell (or missile) hit. Tomahawks would barely be pinpricks to a 200,000 tonner.
I suspect that if a modern leviathan merchantmen is heavily compartmentalized modern torpedoes would not be able to sink it easily, if at all. But the precise aiming possible with a modern torpedo probably means that you could ensure disabling the ship - hitting the screw or engine room, for example.
Thing is, I bet modern huge merchant ships are not compartmentalized much at all, so if you put a hole in the hull big enough to swamp the pumps, they are goners.
With some ships topping 300,000 tonnes, you top the tonnage king in one shot!</HTML>
Of course China might use subs to stop US shipping! Subs are the reffered weapon of the naval underdog.
As for using Tomahawks, these carry the same sized or even smaller warheads than torpedoes, and hit above the waterline, not below it. The \'below the belt\' blow of a torpedo is what makes it so much more lethal than an above the waterline shell (or missile) hit. Tomahawks would barely be pinpricks to a 200,000 tonner.
I suspect that if a modern leviathan merchantmen is heavily compartmentalized modern torpedoes would not be able to sink it easily, if at all. But the precise aiming possible with a modern torpedo probably means that you could ensure disabling the ship - hitting the screw or engine room, for example.
Thing is, I bet modern huge merchant ships are not compartmentalized much at all, so if you put a hole in the hull big enough to swamp the pumps, they are goners.
With some ships topping 300,000 tonnes, you top the tonnage king in one shot!</HTML>
