South Korean ship fires on a ship

[CaptainHaplo]

You couldn't be more right Jim....

Apparently the vessel that fired shots was not the ship that sank, but rather another vessel on patrol in the roughly the same area. That explains why there are 50+ survivors given the water temps. Yet this removes the likelyhood of it being a live fire excercise accident. Still could be a catastrophic malfunction. The ship has not sunk completely, and it may in fact be extremely salvageable - if they can keep it from going all the way under. The fact its capsized though doesn't make that easy.

[Jimbuna]

Does anyone know how deep the water is in that area?

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Does anyone know how deep the water is in that area?

Deep enough that we will never hear the true story. At least it hasent escalated.

[nikimcbee]

I wonder if it could have been a mine? But, you are right SW, good thing this hasn't escalated.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Deep enough that we will never hear the true story. At least it hasent escalated.

Rgr that matey

[Oberon]

Latest word seems to have it that the ship may well have split in two with the force of the explosion. Not unusual for a munitions detonation, the Hood split in two IIRC when her munitions compartment went up but still no real sense of what actually did her in out of the three possibilities that have already been outlined.

Some testimonies from the Captain and crew have been released on The Korea Herald:

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSI...1003290037.asp

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSI...1003290038.asp

[Fincuan]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Does anyone know how deep the water is in that area?

Shouldn't be deep at all. The Yellow Sea is pretty shallow in general, iirc the mean depth being around 40-50 meters and the deepest parts between 150 and 200 meters. I haven't seen the precise coordinates of the sinking site being published, but for example this BBC article says the water in the general area is pretty shallow. I've also seen other articles say the Koreans are prepering to send divers down to the wreck, so no doubt we'll soon learn what exactly happened.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Fincuan

Shouldn't be deep at all. The Yellow Sea is pretty shallow in general, iirc the mean depth being around 40-50 meters and the deepest parts between 150 and 200 meters. I haven't seen the precise coordinates of the sinking site being published, but for example this BBC article says the water in the general area is pretty shallow. I've also seen other articles say the Koreans are prepering to send divers down to the wreck, so no doubt we'll soon learn what exactly happened.

That's what I suspected....now let's see if the NK try to interfere with the salvage/inspection operation.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

That's what I suspected....now let's see if the NK try to interfere with the salvage/inspection operation.

IIRC they use the area as a artillery testing range, so I wouldn't put it past them to lob a couple of shells over during the salvage/inspection op.

[Raptor1]

I thought it was in ROK territorial waters, are the DPRK allowed to randomly fire in there?

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Raptor1

I thought it was in ROK territorial waters, are the DPRK allowed to randomly fire in there?

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2...nt_9474912.htm

It's along the border they use, they stick to their side but play it close to the line.

[Raptor1]

Ah, should've figured the North Korean government is capable of something so unnessecarily idiotic...

[Oberon]

"Don't be so sirry!"

[Castout]

Another picture of the ship, Cheonan




Ship hull is broken/split into two. The stern was the first to be gone beneath the waves.

If it was a mine what's the possibility of it striking the ship's stern?!

I would rule out an accident. It was either a conventional sea mine, a torpedo mine or a torpedo attack.
Somebody is playing a dangerous game . . .
I didn't imply it was definitely North Korea's doing though . . .but we can't help to think it's probably one of the prime suspects.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I wonder if it could have been a mine? But, you are right SW, good thing this hasn't escalated.

Then again there could be a DPRK sub on the bottom right now, or it could be reloading and waiting for another shot...

Originally Posted by Castout

Another picture of the ship, Cheonan




Ship hull is broken/split into two. The stern was the first to be gone beneath the waves.

If it was a mine what's the possibility of it striking the ship's stern?!

I would rule out an accident. It was either a conventional sea mine, a torpedo mine or a torpedo attack.
Somebody is playing a dangerous game . . .
I didn't imply it was definitely North Korea's doing though . . .but we can't help to think it's probably one of the prime suspects.

It could hit the stern if it was an acoustic mine set off my the prop noise like the Russian UDM or PRC Mao-4 that the DPRK does have.

Or it could have snagged the mooring line dangling from a mine that got cut loose from its anchor. Line rapped around the screw and draged it right in to her stern.

Although this ROK FFL does have an aft 76mm it a round cooked off in that it could have wrecked the stern and sank her.

EDIT 'nother possablity the North does have some EM-52 rocket mines, they are acoustic triggered and very devistating...