OT: Loss of the Scorpion, was Re: Naming Computers [was: A Momentous Decision]

From: Joe <rigdonj_at_cfl.rr.com>
Date: Thu Oct 24 09:09:00 2002

At 07:51 AM 10/24/02 -0400, Bob wrote:
>This is very close to the story I heard while in the service.
>
>Apparently the torpedos have a safety mechanisim that deactivates the
>warhead should it make a 180 degree turn, to prevent a 'wild' torpedo
>from sinking the sub that launched it.
>
>The story I heard said that they had a 'hot run' of a torpedo in the
>tube, and were unable to eject it. So the sub made a 180 degree turn to
>return to base and rather than deactivate the warhead, it detonated.


   I think you misunderstand. You're right about the torpedoes having a safety mechanism that disarms the torpedo in the event of a 180 degree turn to prevent "wild" torpedo hits. However in the event of a hot run (torpedo starting inside the sub) the torpedo would become armed after a certain amount of time. Therefore the sub has to make a 180 degree turn in an effort to disarm the warhead before it can arm (exactly the same procedure as disarming a "wild" torpedo but now you have to turn the entire sub). However the sub has to do it before the torpedo becomes armed and it's not easy to make 180 degree turn that quick in something as large as a sub. Apparently the Scorpion didn't make it in time.

  Another possible scenerio is that some of the batteries in one of the torpedoes shorted out and burst into flames. That started a chain reaction among the other batteries and at some point the fire became hot enough to cook off (detonate) one or more of the torpedo warheads. The batteries used in some of the Scorpion's torpedos came from a KNOWN bad lot but the Navy had such a problem getting enough batteries that they decided to use them anyway. Somewhere I have a book on the subject including interviews with several people that witnessed a torpedo battery fire in a land based repair depot. Even in a relatively open area with unarmed torpedoes, fire extinguishers and modern fire fighting equipment the damage was extensive. In a confined area with numerous armed topedoes the results would be disasterous.

>
>I gotta say, it sure takes guts to serve on those boats.

    You aren't kidding. And the early boats were even worse! Conditions in them could only be called in-human. I just finished reading 'Silent Victory, the US Submarine War Against Japan' (two volumes) by Clay Blair, Jr. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone interested in submarine warfare or the war in the Pacific.

    Joe
Received on Thu Oct 24 2002 - 09:09:00 BST