almost a gun question...........

hillbille

November 03, 2021 16:20

was watching a show on tv about subs during WWII and they were documenting a few german subs and what happened during different battles. They talked about sending a volley of 4 torpedoes and all missing their target, I got to wondering what happens to them then???? do they run out of gas/air and just sink or do they float around till something runs into them then explode?? are there a bunch of used torpedoes on the bottom of the ocean??????

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  mark christian

  November 03, 2021 16:40

  "War shot" (live) Torpedoes that miss will attempt to reacquire the target. If they run out of fuel, they sink. After a certain time period below the surface the warhead will automatically deactivate. Practice torpedoes (no warhead) will shutdown and float on the surface so that they can be picked up by torpedo retriever boats. The floating torpedo may send out a signal or pop a dye marker to aid in recovery.

  This info came from my neighbor; a Vietnam era Torpedoman's mate (a rating which no longer exists in the US Navy). I have to take it as factual.

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  forgemonkey

  November 03, 2021 16:42

  FWIW ,,,,,,,,,

  https://history.stackexchange.com/questions/35681/why-did-us-navy-ww2-torpedoes-detonate-at-the-end-of-their-run

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