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To: Pontiac
In September 1942 the USS North Carolina was hit by a Japanese 24 inch Long Lance Torpedo. The 950 pound TNT warhead hit the thinnest part of the ships armor and did considerable damage.

It didn't break her spine.

Improvements where made to the Iowa class ships.

The 650 pound (comp. B?) warhead of a Mark 48 torpedo could break the spine of an Iowa class BB if it detonated immediately below the keel but I don't think "would is the right term.

85 posted on 09/18/2006 9:55:42 PM PDT by InABunkerUnderSF (Everything I need to know about Palestinian nationalism I learned on June 5, 1968.)
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To: InABunkerUnderSF
In September 1942 the USS North Carolina was hit by a Japanese 24 inch Long Lance Torpedo. The 950 pound TNT warhead hit the thinnest part of the ships armor and did considerable damage.

As you noted the WW II torpedo hit the armor, modern torpedoes are designed not to hit the armor but explode under the ship and use the ship’s own weight to sink them.

Modern ship architecture has more or less abandoned armor in favor of electronic countermeasures and counter munitions.

178 posted on 09/19/2006 3:29:09 PM PDT by Pontiac (All are worthy of freedom, none are incapable.)
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