Fishing Boat or Target?

[Osmium Steele]

It landed with a thunderclap in the Atlantic Ocean about 75 feet from Zig-Zag, Eady’s commercial fishing boat, which had been fishing roughly 48 miles off the North Carolina coast. The round kicked up a splash large enough to soak Zig-Zag’s deck and canopy. The impact jarred the boat.

Then, moments later, came another roar. This one splashed closer. And another.

SOURCE

[Herr-Berbunch]

Fishing Boat or Target Practice?

Fixed

Having read it now, I think the fishing boat shouldn't have been there, and there should have been better gunnery observation. Four shots and all missed - my crew would be sacked for that!

[Krauter]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Fixed

Having read it now, I think the fishing boat shouldn't have been there, and there should have been better gunnery observation. Fourteen shots and all missed - my crew would be sacked for that!

Wow, incompetence at its finest with both the fishermen and the CO, Bridgewatch and those manning radars in the CIC

[Kazuaki Shimazaki II]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Four shots and all missed - my crew would be sacked for that!

Yes, in the way that's the saddest part. Won't be expecting this gun to save me from any sea-skimmers, that's for sure

[Sailor Steve]

If the range was indeed eight miles, I'm not surprised they missed.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

If the range was indeed eight miles, I'm not surprised they missed.

The guns carried on 'cans today have come along way from your time Steve. the Mk 45 Mod. 4 gun has a maxium range of about 20 nm, and an effective range of about 13 nm. The ERGM rounds that were in development were GPS guided and had a range of 60 nm, but that project was canceled.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

The guns carried on 'cans today have come along way from your time Steve. the Mk 45 Mod. 4 gun has a maxium range of about 20 nm, and an effective range of about 13 nm. The ERGM rounds that were in development were GPS guided and had a range of 60 nm, but that project was canceled.

I understand that, but even perfect radar guidance can't take into account vagaries of the wind and the fact that eight miles means at least 15 seconds to reach the target. The slightest wave movement can displace a target that small, and a few feet is all it takes. If these rounds can actually seek the target, then I can see it, but if they're just shells then naval gunnery is the same imprecise science it's always been.

[edit] I'm seeing editing in posts. Was it four rounds or fourteen? If fourteen then I see your point, and agree. If four, then random chance still plays a part.

Lots of Failure all around.

Also:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

[edit] I'm seeing editing in posts. Was it four rounds or fourteen? If fourteen then I see your point, and agree. If four, then random chance still plays a part.

From the Article

Eady said they were bombarded for two minutes, although Lowe recalled it happening over less than a minute, with the pace of the shots coming in quicker after the first one.
After the first one landed, it was like three seconds and they were like a second-and-a-half apart then, and then they were going all the way around the boat

So was definitely more then four shots.

[Oberon]

Fishing boat or target?

Depends...is it Icelandic?

[Jimbuna]

Whichever way you look at it they were bloody lucky nobody was killed or injured!!