Torpedo

[Subdeacon Joe]

 

[Trailrider #896]

Problems with "circular shots", torpedoes circling back and hitting the subs that launched them probably accounted for at least two.  A friend of my uncle's, RAdm A.C. Burrows, once told me that the sub aboard which he was sailing, had a near-miss, where the "fish" went past their conning tower ("sail" in today's parlance).  How many lives were lost either from circular running torpedoes or from the Japanese escort vessels coming back and sinking the subs will probably never be known!    Incidentally, the tests at Pearl were supervised by Cdr "Swede" Momson, developer of the Momson lung for escape from a downed submarine..  This was portrayed in a movie, but I can't recall the name.

[Ace_of_Hearts]

Operation Pacific

 

[Cypress Sun]

The only torpedo that I've ever seen was a Mark 18. I had never seen one before and was surprised at how big it was. It was in a museum here in Pinellas County. It was a volunteer operated museum dedicated to the preservation of American military artifacts from the 1700's through the Gulf War. They had everything from Continental uniforms to Vietnam era battle tanks and firearms galore. I went there many times, mainly just to support the museum and to gawk at all of the history right there in one place. Sadly the museum closed down some years ago due to low attendance....couldn't pay the bills for rent on the building. I don't know what ever happened to all of the items that were there. I just hope they went to another museum where more people could appreciate them.

 

http://www.armedforcesmuseum.com/

[Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795]

Tang was definitely lost to a circular run