Anti-sub nets were made of steel (they rust!) - at least around Orkney they were. There are a few left lying around on beaches here and the Naval museum at Lyness on Hoy has a fence made of the stuff. From memory I'd say the links are approx 16" dia made from approx 1/2" dia very coarse wire rope. Each strand is maybe 3mm dia (again from memory) with just a gentle twist on the bundle. There is very little flexibility in a link. Look as I might, I have never yet found a join in one of the links (if that makes sense) but there must be a weld somewhere....
I really struggle to see a wee serrated thing on the front of a sub doing any more damage that a superficial scratch.
Didd
Edit: By chance I have a photo that includes the fence at Lyness museum if anybody is interested. Also in the shot is a torpedo which appears to be heading straight for the camera and one of the screws from HMS Hampshire which was sunk by a mine in WW1 just a mile or two from my front door. If anybody wants to see it let me know and I'll try and work out how to!
Last edited by Didd; 03-10-10 at 05:10 PM.
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