S.Korea confirms high explosive traces on ship wreckage(Update)

South Korea's defence minister confirmed Monday that traces of high explosive were found on the wreckage of a warship sunk by a mystery blast, indicating it was probably hit by a torpedo.

The 1,200-tonne corvette was split in two near the tense Yellow Sea border with North Korea on March 26. Suspicion has fallen on the North.

Defence Minister Kim Tae-Young, confirming earlier media reports that had been denied by his ministry, said investigators had found traces of RDX explosive, which is widely used in torpedoes.

The discovery means a torpedo was the likeliest cause of the disaster, Kim said without specifying who may have launched it. But "it is too early yet" to draw a clear conclusion, he added.

His ministry said the traces were found in the ship's funnel and in sand collected from the seabed.

Kim also said investigators had found metal fragments that did not appear to come from the ship.

Results of a multinational investigation into the sinking, which killed 46 sailors, are due next week, local media reports say. The South is pondering ways to respond if the North's involvement is proved.

A defence ministry official told AFP the South could resume its anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, for the first time in almost six years

Torpedos are big and heavy, they don't vaporize when they explode, lots of chunks are left all over. If you look at the photos of the two halves of the ship, there is no buckling, charring or shrapnel holes on the sides. As there would be if (the very common munition) RDX exploded on contact with the hull.

So, if it were a torpedo, it had to be a proximity-homing type that explodes 30'-50' below the keel, causing a high velocity air bubble that breaks the ship in half without charring the hull.

The sinking was in very shallow water and any torpedo chunks would be all over the sea bed, there would likely be a shallow crater, etc. The remains of a torpedo would be very available to divers and likely on display by now.

If you look at the remaining halves of the hull, there is a missing section of the lower hull at the split point that, from a side view, looks like an inverted "V", open side towards the keel, that is gone. A proximity torpedo or mine degrades the hull upward, not downward, causing an upright "V" of damage.

I believe that the damage was caused by onboard ordnance, a mine or depth charge, in the lower hull, exploding downward and outward.

I think it was an accident.

First, I have no political agenda. Second, the photos speak for themselves. None of the damage fits any of the media or other “experts” theories.

I am no fan of NK, but neither am I a fan of SK hysteria.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.