Posted on 12/03/2013 8:27:28 PM PST by Utilizer
Scientists plumbing the Pacific Ocean off the Hawaii coast have discovered a Second World War era Japanese submarine, a technological marvel that had been preparing to attack the Panama Canal before being scuttled by U.S. forces.
The 122-metre "Sen-Toku" class vessel — among the largest pre-nuclear submarines ever built — was found in August off the southwest coast of Oahu and had been missing since 1946, scientists at the University of Hawaii at Manoa said.
The I-400 and its sister ship, the I-401, which was found off Oahu in 2005, were able to travel one and a half times around the world without refuelling and could hold up to three folding-wing bombers that could be launched minutes after resurfacing, the scientists said.
The accidental discovery of the I-400, an aircraft-toting I-400 mega sub, on the rock- and debris-littered ocean floor, some 701 metres beneath the surface, has solved the mystery surrounding a ship long thought to be farther afield.
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U.S. forces sank the submarines and claimed to have no information on their precise location, in an apparent bid to prevent their technology falling into the hands of the Soviet Union, which had demanded the ships be returned to Japan.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
“how does a catapult work on a diesel electric boat?”
My guess would be compressed air.
“Saw some nice 51s and other stuff of the same era at EAA. The 51s were usually running in the morning.”
Best I ever saw was at the Andrews AFB Open House one year. They had a Mustang display team, “The Four Horsemen.” One of them couldn’t make it that day so his place was taken by Chuck Yeager.
I am sure it was steam.
Cool!
This is one I’d like to have seen more of. There was so much going on and it was my first EAA visit, I never got back to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTcBP_Jhu0Y
Here are some of the 51s there, mostly idling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbZ1qDIKi60
Diesel electric boats do not produce steam for catapults. Must have been compressed air.
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