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Originally Posted by TLAM Strike
Actually I was talking about the "hot" torpedo theory not the "hot run" theory. The theory goes that a Mk37 torpedo battery malfunctioned and began to overheat. The overheating battery exploded and cause a low order detonation of the Mk 37 torpedo warhead.
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Ick, That could certainly ruin your day.
@bubblehead, I am not sure I can agree your opinion on the motivation. The revenge angle just does not seem plausible. How exactly would the Soviets garner any "revenge" by
secretly sinking a US submarine?
I was an old cold warrior and it was my impression that the Soviets were neither stupid nor rash in what they did.
Quote:
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Admiral Painter: Russians don't take a dump, son, without a plan.
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I am assuming that the "ramming" of the Soviet submarine is the sinking of the K-129 on or about 8 March 1968. The sinking of the USS Scorpion was on 22 May 1968.
That would mean that in 73 days the Soviets would have to
1. Determine that the K-129 had, in fact sunk. It was not declared missing until the end of March 1968.
2. Decide that the K-129 had been sunk because it was rammed by a US submarine. How would they know this at the time, especially since we don't know what caused the K-129 to sink even after we found it and recovered parts of it.
3. Decide that it would be in the best interest of the USSR to sink a US submarine as a form of Revenge
4. Maneuver a Soviet Submarine to track and follow a US Submarine (not a common thing in 1968 given the differences in technology)
5. Attack and sink the USS Scorpion.
That is a lot to do in only 73 days. And what could the Soviet command think they would gain by this? The risks far far outweigh any benefit of emotional "revenge".
The revenge story just does not make sense. Occam’s razor should be considered.