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To: Moose4
The Navy's Torpedo bureaucracy refused to accept years of reports of failed torpedoes, and then basically dragged it's feet while manufacturing every possible cover your ass excuse.

A real scandal, and less in the mentality of bureaucratic organizations, in the military and out. Another scandal was the Sherman tank, and especially its low velocity gun.

12 posted on 10/03/2008 6:48:20 AM PDT by Leisler
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To: Leisler

IMHO, the worst atrocity was that these men were forgotten about. I know that many new undersea searching devices have been developed only recently, but it should not be at the expense of the families to determine the fate of their loved ones.

We owe our lives, our country, to those that sacrificed, some gave all, to conquer the enemies of WWII. I feel the same way about this ongoing battle for not only this country, but for all who wish to live peace throughout the world.


13 posted on 10/03/2008 7:40:49 AM PDT by wizr (He lives in every heart!! Don't turn away. Just listen.)
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To: Leisler
It would be better for the Navy to use captured Japanese torpedoes like the 21" Type 95 and the 24" Type 93 Long Lance. Unlike many other torpedoes of that era, they were powered by a combination of oxygen and kerosene, enhancing the maximum range threefold as opposed to their combined compressed air and ethanol counterparts. Also, they were safer to deploy in the combat arena. http://www.pacerfarm.org/i-400/ I remember reading this article where after the Japanese surrender, a cache of Type 93 and 95 torpedoes were discovered in a cave near the Sasebo IJN naval base and they were hauled outdoors, slick-covered in oil. A IJN junior seaman equipped with a monkey wrench loosened the bolts on one of the Long Lances sealing the oxygen tank and the pressurized O2 just hissed out. No explosion. These torpedoes were superior and safer to deploy in combat to the MK 14s and 18s because they possessed an anti-circular run mechanism, a vital feature that could have saved the USS Grunion and her 70 officers and crew.
14 posted on 06/07/2009 10:08:45 PM PDT by myknowledge (F-22 Raptor: World's Largest Distributor of Sukhoi parts!)
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