There's been some recent material declassified and some more research done.
I recently read a book about various sub disasters, both US and Soviet. The
widely accepted belief is that a torpedo was "running hot". If I remember
correctly the details, when a torpedo is running hot, it means the primary
battery is activated (something about a seal has to be punctured, which
allows the battery to activate?) and the weapon is armed. In this event, if
the sub makes a hard turn to starboard, an inertial interlock can be
activated that will disarm the weapon.
The Scorpion is believed to have made a hard turn to starboard, engaging
the interlock, but the torpedo "cooked off" anyway. Later interviews with
the torpedo and battery manufacturers revealed that several defective
batteries had been shipped, and serial number lots account for one of these
being on the Scorpion. The SOSUS bouy tapes that were later reviewed seem
to indicate that the acoustical signature was not a detonation type
signature, but two slower explosions, as when explosives are burned (as the
overheated battery would have done, after catching fire). The first
explosion was the torpedo explosives burning, and the second explosion most
likely a detonation caused by the ensuing fire.
Of course, the only people that know for absolute sure died. The book
might have been "Blind Mans Buff". I have about a 90% hit rate of getting
read books into my spreadsheet. I may have my recollection details wrong,
but this is the basic theory.
--John
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org]On
Behalf Of Eric Dittman
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 22:48
To: cctalk_at_classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: Naming Computers [was: A Momentous Decision]
> Though know one will really know the exact cause of the loss of the
> Scorpion, it is believed she was lost due to a torpedo detonating inside
> of the ship (like the Kursk).
I seem to recall reading that the cause of the Scorpion was
determined by the Navy but classified for some reason.
Of course any time a ship is lost under unknown circumstances
there are people that will either come up with their own reason
or assume that unknown=undisclosed/classified. Unfortunately
I can't remember if the article I read fell into the second
category.
--
Eric Dittman
dittman_at_dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/
Received on Wed Oct 23 2002 - 22:41:00 BST