S.Korea raises warship, finds clues on sinking (torpedo)

Yahoo News ^ | 24 April, 2010 | Jon Herskovitz and Jungyoun Park

[HereInTheHeartland]

“There may be a lot of casualties for the brave soldiers,”

There will be a lot of dead American soldiers (again) if this goes hot again.
Not something to taken lightly by any measure.

[Loud Mime]

If China did this, and not North Korea.....hmmm...

[mquinn]

I've always wondered, is there any news or word of some sort of North Korean resistance or underground? Does one exist at all? I fear that any that try are ruthlessly crushed without a peep to the outside world, like you'd read in 1984.

[Blueflag]

Modern torpedoes are not like what you see in the movies (at least not all the torps).

Modern torpedoes can troll at lower speeds with virtually no acoustic signature, and then sprint the final 150/200m when there is little or no defense. Also, even if the SKs DID hear “high speed screws” there is little they could do in time.

Secondly, this occurred in relatively shallow water and the acoustics would be pretty lousy for a SONAR operator — lotsa surface noise, the sound of their own screws, etc.

Most likely though the sub was close enough that when torpedo went to high speed, there was no chance of counter measures or effective maneuvering.

Torps are much faster than a ‘corvette’ like this.

[Non-Sequitur]

It’s time the North Karean people be freed from tyranny of Kim Jong il.

Why is the freedom of the North Korean people worth the lives of tens of thousands of U.S. and South Korean troops?

[Former Proud Canadian]

"The catastrophic costs of a war on the peninsula will greatly constrain the U.S. and South Korean options for a military response, which thus remains an unlikely trigger for major military conflict," the global strategy group Control Risks wrote in a research note this week.

So, how long does he think North Korea can sustain a war? It that army in tip top shape? Can they mount any kind of broad offensive? Would they rain a gas attack on Seoul? The little toad is about to kick off, are his successors more reasonable? How about a decapitation strike?

[Non-Sequitur]

There may be a lot of casualties for the brave soldiers, but the end result is better for all.

Then by all means join up. The Marines are always looking for a few good men - and women - and last time I checked today's army wants to join you. Hurry and you can make it over there in time before the balloon goes up.

[JohnBrowdie]

I am sure that the administration is “closely monitoring” the situation.

[Loud Mime]

I knew about the torps but did not consider the shallow area. Thanks.

[Greysard]

So, how long does he think North Korea can sustain a war?

For a couple of hours. But that's enough time to fire every shell they have, and launch every missile, and use up all their nuclear warheads (that they may or may not have.) SK will be history, and it doesn't matter that the USA will destroy NK just about the same time.

SK is facing an irrational foe, not far from a madman. They have to be very careful.

[Bean Counter]

[rlmorel]

I have heard good things about their military.

My dad worked as a naval liaison with them back in the Fifties, and he seemed to think they had it together. He described them as tough, capable and diligent.

That is what I have heard from some other US military about their Army.

[Eagles6]

Yes, China is behind this. They smell "commander zero's" weakness. NK is a way for china to push our buttons and proliferate nuke and missile technology while maintaing "implausible deniability".

They do nothing without china's say so.

[petertare]

I think it likely that there is no ASW gear aboard this small vessel. The torp would never have been detected. Nor would a mine.

[ichabod1]

Yeah, I would take what they said as diplospeak for “We will respond at a time and at place of our own choosing.” Pretty much what Bush said, diplomatically, after 9-11.

But one thing is for certain - they didn’t need to raise that vessel to know what happened. They had divers all over that wreck within hours.

So, India doesn’t respond to Pak fire teams shooting the hell out of Bombay. South Korea doesn’t respond to the sinking of a strategic asset. What if they gave a war and nobody came?

I’ll tell you what if. The enemy will be emboldened and raise the stakes.

[ichabod1]

Yeah, that was pretty much why we knew their powder magazine didn’t spontaneously blow up. The Sorks run a shipshape navy. They learned it from us after WWII. I don’t believe there is a lot of third world bumbling on their vessels.

[ichabod1]

One thing is, they may have known from the start. Some governments can keep a secret.

[ichabod1]

I like wars. I pray for wars. Because I know that unopposed aggression just leads to more aggression. Because I know that war should be like yanking a tooth - sharp, painful, and fast, because if not the problems fester and never get solved.

We live in one big, fat, dysfunctional country that is afraid of the truth. WE CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH. I think it’s high time we started.