N.Korea claims capture of U.S. submersible(or torpedo?)

AP ^ | 08/07/06 | KWANG-TAE KIM

[TigerLikesRooster]

N.Korea claims capture of U.S. submersible

By KWANG-TAE KIM, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 36 minutes ago

North Korea claimed it has captured an unmanned U.S. submersible and put it on display in Pyongyang, a pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan said Monday. The U.S. dismissed the report.

The small vessel was captured during a reconnaissance mission in waters off North Korea's eastern city of Hamhung, said the Choson Sinbo newspaper, which is published by a pro-North Korean association linked to the Pyongyang government.

The newspaper report on its Web site, which is monitored in Seoul, was accompanied by a picture purported to be of the black torpedo-shaped U.S. vessel. There were no further details as to when or how North Korea obtained it.

A spokesman for the U.S. military in South Korea, David Oten, dismissed the report.

"We have nothing unaccounted for and there is no way for us to verify that this is a U.S. vessel," Oten said.

Last September, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il instructed officials to put the captured vessel on public display next to the spy ship USS Pueblo, which the communist regime seized along with its crew of 82 in 1968, the newspaper said. The crew was released after 11 months.

The Pueblo, moored to the bank of the Taedong River in Pyongyang, is now the site of tours to inspire anti-U.S. sentiment among the country's 23 million people. Some 1,500 North Koreans made daily visits to the Pueblo during a recent month-long, anti-U.S. rally period, said the newspaper.

Despite repeated U.S. assurances that it has no intention of attacking the North, the communist country frequently claims that Washington seeks to invade it and that the U.S. is driving tensions on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war.

The North recently raised regional tensions by test-launching seven missiles, including a new long-range model believed capable of reaching the U.S. that failed shortly after takeoff.

[TigerLikesRooster]

The alleged captured submersible

It looks like a torpedo.

Any Navy types out there who can identify this object?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Brilliant]

"We have nothing unaccounted for and there is no way for us to verify that this is a U.S. vessel," Oten said.




But he apparently doesn't deny that we have them operating in the area. Hmmmm...

[Brilliant]

Now that I think of it, it makes no sense. If we had unmanned submerisibles operating in the area, they would be designed to self destruct rather than be captured.

[Eye of Unk]

Wouldn't it literally be the "bomb" if it was actually a cleverly disguised nuke torpedo. One with a delayed timer on it.
It looks like a recon torp, but I am no expert.

[edpc]

It doesn't look like any of these....

[martin_fierro]

Some 1,500 North Koreans made daily visits to the Pueblo during a recent month-long, anti-U.S. rally period, and the government had its hands full preventing visitors from trying to eat everything in sight, said the newspaper.

There. Fixed.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

"It looks like a recon torp, but I am no expert."

Perhaps you could enlighten us with just a little experience on what a 'recon torp' might be.

I think you're chatting, advisedly speaking, through your hat.

[yankeedame]

Some 1,500 North Koreans made daily visits to the Pueblo during a recent month-long, anti-U.S. rally period, and the government had its hands full preventing visitors from trying to eat everything in sight, said the newspaper.

There. Fixed.

===================

Almost, but not quite:

"Some 1,500 North Koreans -- lured by the promise of a steamed dumpling each -- made daily visits to the Pueblo during a recent month-long, anti-U.S. rally period, and the government had its hands full preventing visitors from trying to eat everything in sight, said the newspaper.

There we go! Now its fixed.

[martin_fierro]

Reporter: What kind of torpedo is it?

Johnny: Oh, it's a big pretty black torpedo with curly fins, a flat nose, propellers, and it just looks like a big ....

[wolfcreek]

Oh, that's what happened to our 'DOOMSDAY' torpedo. Hope they don't try and open it!

[sgtbono2002]

If it were a recon torpedo I would think the first thing the N. Koreans would have done was try to get into the thing to see how it works. If they did that they would be displaying the scientific instruments they took from it as proof of what the thing was.

Just an opinion ---not a fact.

[xone]

bttt

[xrp]

[SmithL]

What do you think?

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

It would be "interesting" to see how long that "concrete" and cut stone and grout around the display case have been in place.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Lining up for dumplings at the Pueblo!!

"Hey! Where's the kochujan you promised??"

[F15Eagle]

So what is it then?

[longhorn too]

I will never understand how we let North Korea get away with this.

[RockinRight]

Kim Jong-Il: "We captured it. The big rong missre. But it's ticking and we don't know why."

[EQAndyBuzz]

Yep, that is a torpedo from 1958.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #21

That old? Must be something N. Korean fishermen got in their net while fishing crabs.:)

[SmithL]

It doesn't look like any of these....

Just wait for the Reuters story, it'll look exactly like one of those.

[Puddleglum]

It looks like one from an old episode of Gilligan's Island.

[EricT.]

If it were a recon torpedo I would think the first thing the N. Koreans would have done was try to get into the thing to see how it works. If they did that they would be displaying the scientific instruments they took from it as proof of what the thing was.

That would be assuming the were competent enough to properly utilize simple hand tools.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

What is what, a 'recon torp?' A fanciful hypothetical born of too many video games. The photograph? An otherwise unidentified ostensible torpedo.

[RetiredSWO]

That is NOT an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV)
Looks like a very old torpedo (50s-60s era)

[RetiredSWO]

http://gulliver.trb.org/conferences/MB/spring04/Navy-1.pdf

[F15Eagle]

The photograph was what I was asking. Thought maybe you had other information on what exactly it was.

[MarshallDillon]

It is probably a NK mockup of one of their failed attempts at creating b/s.

[Ready4Freddy]

LOL!!

Just wait for the Reuters story, it'll look exactly like one of those.

[BulletBobCo]

It's a Ronery Torpedo.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

A black tube shape on a NK news site? Do you know what is 'credulity?' How 'bout a failure of scepticism.

[Kenny Bunk]

Lighten up Huffman.

I personally saw the "Recon Torpedo" on the History Channel. The show was " Hitler's Secret Nazi Wonder Weapons of 1957"

[F15Eagle]

Skeptical, yes. But if someone thinks it's "cobbled together" from something it would be nice to have something to compare it to. If nothing looks like it, fine.

[F15Eagle]

lol

[ko_kyi]

Johnny, how about some coffee?

[F15Eagle]

Guess they tried a UAV from a torpedo a long time ago though ...

The US Navy has studyied the feasibility of operating VTOL UAVs since the early 1960s, the QH-50 Gyrodyne torpedo-delivery drone being an early example. However, high cost and technological immaturity have precluded acquiring and fielding operational VTOL UAV systems.

http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/uav.htm

And one for mine reconnaissance ... look at the prop and fins ... and referenced with a 688 sub ...



Near-term Mine Reconnaissance System [NMRS]

The Near-term Mine Reconnaissance System [NMRS] is being installed on various platforms, including the SSN-688 Los Angeles atttack submarines.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/nmrs.htm

[F15Eagle]

[F15Eagle]

fyi

[F15Eagle]

If the NK's faked one, then this is what they must have based it on ...

[Mr. Jazzy]

It looks like the Hunley!


The South Shall Rise Again, and overthrow that rittle rownrey guy!!!

[SmithL]

The South Shall Rise Again,

Maybe so, but good luck on recruiting the 4th crew for the Hunley.

[F15Eagle]

What is what, a 'recon torp?' A fanciful hypothetical born of too many video games. The photograph? An otherwise unidentified ostensible torpedo.

Perhaps not as hypothetical as you suggest.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

Why don't you and Kenny Bunco have a nice chat together?

[sgtbono2002]

If they can put a missile together, even one that only flies a few miles ,and they can build a nuclear weapon, we have to assume they can figure a way into this thing.

[Enchante]

Maybe it's a WWII leftover from the Japanese navy...... they probably based some stuff in Korea, which was under their control.......

[Kenny Bunk]

......NKs competent enough to properly utilize simple hand tools.

North Koreans were once competent enough to use hand tools, but lately it seems someone has eaten all the handles. For their sake, I hope this torpedo is ethanol-fueled, and that they all get a chance to suck on it. That could be as close to a national holiday as these poor bastards are ever likely to get.

[Kenny Bunk]

......NKs competent enough to properly utilize simple hand tools.

North Koreans were once competent enough to use hand tools, but lately it seems someone has eaten all the handles. For their sake, I hope this torpedo is ethanol-fueled, and that they all get a chance to suck on it. That could be as close to a national holiday as these poor bastards are ever likely to get.

[Holicheese]

I was thinking the same thing before I even saw the picture. Gilligan being chased around the camp by the torpedo with that great chase music playing. Loved it!