U-boat torpedo almost hits tanker 63 years after fired at the HMS Royal Oak!

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

Nuclear weapons have been recovered with less concern.

Yea but they dont have a wet steam generator waiting to pop off.

Wait a minute... if this was a torpedo fired in action, what led them to believe it still had a propellent charge in it?

I mean wouldent it have spent its propellent already?

[Arclight]

Ehr, wasn't Prien carrying only electric torpedoes?

And am I the only one thinking the thing surfaced because the warhead separated?

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Arclight

Ehr, wasn't Prien carrying only electric torpedoes?

And am I the only one thinking the thing surfaced because the warhead separated?

The article stated that the device was destroyed as it still contained 'compressed gas'

[Arclight]

So?

I'm claiming they're wrong since Prien only carried electric torpedoes.

[UnderseaLcpl]

I'm concerned about where you got the information that Prien carried only electrics on that mission, Arclight. I could probably look it up myself, but it would be easier if you would be so gracious as to tell me. I don't doubt your idea, but I'd like to check your references and verify your claim for myself.

Honestly, I'm a little surprised that the torpedo (electric or gas) would surface at all. IIRC, the gas torpedoes suffered from a leak in the pressure chamber that caused them to run too deep, and one can only assume that such a leak would be exacerbated by so many years of exposure to salt water and pressure. Electric torpedoes are (I would assume), less buoyant, by virtue of the weight and size of their lead-acid batteries.

I really don't know what to make of it.