Posted on 03/17/2014 6:15:04 AM PDT by artichokegrower
A British warship accidentally launched an inert torpedo during a training exercise on Wednesday, sending a dummy weapon crashing into a wharf at a naval base in southern England used by nuclear submarines.
(Excerpt) Read more at gcaptain.com ...
It wasn’t only the torpedo that was a dummy.
“Career limiting move” ...
That’ll end the Captains naval officer career.
There is a “British Warship?”
LOL, precisely.
My military college professor used that term quite often.
“WHOOMP! There it is!”
I’ve stared down the barrel at a few decisions/opportunities like that. Closest I came was back in the day - very nearly destroying a multi-million dollar piece of equipment. I was following orders, doing exactly what I was told to do. But there was that little warning voice in my head saying “this is a really bad idea.” I knew if things went badly, well, there’s always retail food sales. Fortunately the gear and my reputation survived. :-)
“retail food sales”, LOL!
Unless it was a Nerf Torpedo, wouldn’t it still tear some things up? No, per my tagline, I didn’t read the article.
Command position(s) open
Don’t you listen to them torpedo! You’re not a dummy! You’re as smart as any torpedo! Don’t let those haters get you down!
And received glowing remarks for it I’m sure...
Practice/dry run ?
“Mulligan!”
Hey Capt’n, what’s this button fer?
On this particular morning, a DD was getting ready for an ASW exercise off Mayport, FL. The two launchers were loaded with target practice charges (2x24). Exercise charges were the same as live Hedgehogs with the exception that the Torpex filler for the warhead was replaced by concrete. Just prior to departure for the exercise zone, the exercise was rescheduled to the next day; the 48 charges were left on their spigots overnight.
The next morning after quarters, a TM1 (first class torpedoman) went out to do voltage checks on the Mk 13 launcher. He plugged-in his meter, inserted the firing key in the panel, cocked the ripple switch, and tripped it. [Normally, at least one or more switches were open from underwater battery plot to the Mk 13 launcher and would have interrupted the firing voltage to the spigots — but not today. All five switches were closed and the spigots were fully armed and ready.]
The first indication anything was amiss was the first two charges left the spigots followed by the remaining 22 at 0.2 second intervals. The 24 projectiles soared into the air before plunging down into a base parking lot. The projectiles buried themselves about two feet into the ground. Three cars suffered “direct hits”; one in the trunk, one in the middle of the roof, and one in the middle of the hood. There were lots of ashen faces, followed by lots of excitement. One of the crew that watched from the bridge said: “This was the best pattern we [the ship] ever shot!”
OK. There are two leevers on this thing. If you don’t know what leever “A” does, you had best leever “B.”
The article doesn’t say anything about ranges involved or if the torpedo motor started.
Still, the Stingray 324mm (12.8in) diameter torpedo could cause a significant dent even if it was just propulsed (compressed air launch sysetm)out of the tube. While it is classified as a “lightweight” torpedo, it is 2.6m (8.5ft) long and weighs 267kg(589lbs). Running speed (45Knots) would cause significantly more damage.
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