Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: DarthVader

The worst part of a missile strike is not the warhead. Teh bulkheads and framing on a larger ship like a carrier will manage to survive those explosions relatively intact. The danger is the remainder of the rocket motor that passes through the hull. It'll keep burning until it runs out of fuel.

And since most solid rocket fuels are magnesium based, they burn at 2,400 F, enough to melt right through steel. Not to mention setting fire to paint, plastics, insulation, wood, paper, flesh and anything else it comes into contact with. Fire at sea is an even greater danger than the missle warhead itself.


256 posted on 04/15/2005 10:30:45 AM PDT by Wombat101 (Sanitized for YOUR protection....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 255 | View Replies ]


To: Wombat101

That is true and magnesium fires are terrible. That is why they have Vulcan Phalanx to make these bad boys disintegrate before they hit.


261 posted on 04/15/2005 10:36:52 AM PDT by DarthVader (Liberal Democrat = Fat, drunk and stupid is a hell of a way to go through life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 256 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson