Movies and Films
This is the forum for Movie and Film discussions. Again, our topic is naval warfare in WWII for the most part.
"Kursk" Horizon programme
Posted by:
I Stapley
()
Date: May 08, 2002 10:19AM
<HTML>Did anyone catch this programme which aired on BBC2 last night?
I followed with interest as the story unfolded from an alleged collision between Kursk and a shadowing US Navy boat to the findings of the British Seismology Institute that concluded that the loss was due to an explosion.
Back in 1955, an experimental hydrogen-peroxide powered torpedo was being loaded into HM Submarine Sidon in Portland Harbour. Shortly afterwards, an explosion sank the boat with the loss of 13 lives. Subsequent findings reached the conclusion that the HTP pipe had ruptured, the liquid oxidised inside the torpedo until pressure caused the weapon to burst. It was thought that the torp had been accidentaly started while inside the boat, the motor running too fast causing the fracture.
It has been known for some time that the Russian Navy continued to use HTP powered torpedoes long after they had been abandoned by other navies a dangerous. Presumably KGB Intelligence would have sent back reports at the time of the Sidon catastrophe, so how come these warnings were ignored?
It also transpired from the programme that the 23 crew of the Kursk who escaped the inferno in the bows did not survive for longer than about 6 hours after the accident (during which time the fleet was waiting for the boat to commence a dummy attack) so any rescue attempts if they had been authorised in time would have been in vain in any case.
A footnote to the programme is that the Russian Navy has withdrawn all stocks of HTP torpedoes from its vessels, unfortunately too late for the crew of the ill fated Kursk.</HTML>
I followed with interest as the story unfolded from an alleged collision between Kursk and a shadowing US Navy boat to the findings of the British Seismology Institute that concluded that the loss was due to an explosion.
Back in 1955, an experimental hydrogen-peroxide powered torpedo was being loaded into HM Submarine Sidon in Portland Harbour. Shortly afterwards, an explosion sank the boat with the loss of 13 lives. Subsequent findings reached the conclusion that the HTP pipe had ruptured, the liquid oxidised inside the torpedo until pressure caused the weapon to burst. It was thought that the torp had been accidentaly started while inside the boat, the motor running too fast causing the fracture.
It has been known for some time that the Russian Navy continued to use HTP powered torpedoes long after they had been abandoned by other navies a dangerous. Presumably KGB Intelligence would have sent back reports at the time of the Sidon catastrophe, so how come these warnings were ignored?
It also transpired from the programme that the 23 crew of the Kursk who escaped the inferno in the bows did not survive for longer than about 6 hours after the accident (during which time the fleet was waiting for the boat to commence a dummy attack) so any rescue attempts if they had been authorised in time would have been in vain in any case.
A footnote to the programme is that the Russian Navy has withdrawn all stocks of HTP torpedoes from its vessels, unfortunately too late for the crew of the ill fated Kursk.</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
"Kursk" Horizon programme
|
I Stapley | 05/08/2002 10:19AM |