[TorpX]

Quoted by snarf:

'Later I was informed that the Mark 28 torpedoes had not been tested in shallow water. Tests showed that ships propellers emitted both a direct sound path and a strong sound path that reflected or bounced off the bottom at lesser depths. Thus, those that we fired headed for the bottom to bury themselves in the mud or sand, or they failed to start.'

Ok, I guess I had forgotten that, or assumed that they failed to start (like with trying to start your car when it is -30 F ??). In any case, that is a significant design problem as you have the potential for your torpedo exploding underneath your sub in shallow water - not good!

Sorry. I didn't mean to sound condescending. The truth is that I haven't read all that much about torpedoes myself, and sometimes when I come across something that seems obvious to me I tend to forget that it may or may not even be true, much less "obvious" to someone who may know more than I do.

It's ok. I probably annoy twice as many people as you do.



About the electric torps, I'm struck by the notion that the navy had the same pattern repeating. Defective torpedo design - inadequate testing - poor results in the field - redesign work. This book just seems to confirm it. The Germans had the same problem, but handled it much better. BuOrd let the Navy down, I'd say.