South Korean ship torpedoed?

[Buzz Killington]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/03/26/south-korean-navy-ship-sinking-near-border-n-korea/

South Korean Navy Reportedly Shoots at Unidentified Ships Near North Korea

FOXNews.com

The South Korean navy reportedly shot at unidentified ships near North Korea and is investigating whether a sinking ship in its navy was hit with a torpedo near the maritime border with the communist North.



The South Korean navy has reportedly fired shots at unidentified ships in the direction of North Korea as it investigates whether a sinking vessel in its fleet was struck by a torpedo Friday.

Military officials said the 1,200-ton ship Cheonan was patrolling in waters south of the maritime border with North Korea when an explosion occurred at the stern of the ship, which carries a crew of 104 sailors, KBS World Radio reported.

South Korean broadcaster SBS said many of the sailors were feared dead, as the country's president, Lee Myung-Bak, called an emergency meeting of security-related ministers.

Twenty-four sailors have been rescued from the vessel, officials told the Korea Herald, and navy ships and helicopters continue to circle in an attempt to save more crew members, KBS World Radio reported.

There was no word on the cause of the explosion or any casualties, but officials did not rule out the possibility of an attack from North Korea.

South Korea's YTN TV network said the government was investigating whether the explosion was caused by a torpedo attack from the North, and KBS reported news that the another South Korean ship fired at unidentified vessels while patrolling nearby waters.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

[The Prowler]

Uh Oh...that's not good.

[GH2001]

smells eerily similar to Gulf of Tonkin.

[GarMan]

They still don't seem to know what happened.  Seems a little strange...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8607354.stm

South Korea sailors describe mystery ship blast

South Korean sailors who escaped a warship which sank last month have said they felt a large "external blast" before the ship went down.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the incident, the sailors said the ship had been operating normally before it sank off Baengnyeong Island.

Officials in Seoul say they still do not know what happened to the Cheonan, which was carrying 104 crew...

I'm sure The Obama is closely monitoring the situation. 

[Snaggletiger]

Okay you military types...question.  Do warships not have radar/sonar/someshit that warns of incoming missles, torpedoes etc.?  I mean, even in the black and white war movies they knew torpedoes were coming and took evasive action.  John Wayne would never have allowed this to happen.

[Saniflush]

Okay you military types...question.  Do warships not have radar/sonar/someshit that warns of incoming missles, torpedoes etc.?  I mean, even in the black and white war movies they knew torpedoes were coming and took evasive action.  John Wayne would never have allowed this to happen.

Ask the squid. 

[dallaswareagle]

Okay you military types...question.  Do warships not have radar/sonar/someshit that warns of incoming missles, torpedoes etc.?  I mean, even in the black and white war movies they knew torpedoes were coming and took evasive action.  John Wayne would never have allowed this to happen.

Most US ships also have ship cameras all over the place. SK navy Unknown?

Had John Wayne been there, The torpedo would have bounced off the hull, turned around and scampered back home.

[The Prowler]

I'm not sure wooden warships have radar/sonar/someshit that warns them of incoming attacks.

[GH2001]

Most US ships also have ship cameras all over the place. SK navy Unknown?

Had John Wayne been there, The torpedo would have bounced off the hull, turned around and scampered back home.

If it had been Chuck Norris, the torpedo would have crapped its pants and died on the spot.

[Pell City Tiger]

Okay you military types...question.  Do warships not have radar/sonar/someshit that warns of incoming missles, torpedoes etc.?  I mean, even in the black and white war movies they knew torpedoes were coming and took evasive action.  John Wayne would never have allowed this to happen.

The bigger ships have sonar, which will only alert them to the presence of a submarine. The only known detection device available (from the surface perspective) against a torpedo attack is the good ol' eyeball. Rapidly approaching bubbles are generally the first telltale sign that a torpedo is inbound. Destroyers, frigates and such have hydrophones that are used to listen for subsurface threats but are extremely limited in accuracy. You have to have a calm ocean and a damn alert & highly trained operator listening for the high pitched "whirr" of the torpedo. The probability of detection is 60% at best, and that's with modern equipment seen most commonly with major navies. Patrol boats, such as this one, are pretty much fucked.

Incoming missiles are more easily detected. Practically every ship has some sort of air search radar.

John Wayne was full of shit.

[Snaggletiger]

The bigger ships have sonar, which will only alert them to the presence of a submarine. The only known detection device available (from the surface perspective) against a torpedo attack is the good ol' eyeball. Rapidly approaching bubbles are generally the first telltale sign that a torpedo is inbound. Destroyers, frigates and such have hydrophones that are used to listen for subsurface threats but are extremely limited in accuracy. You have to have a calm ocean and a damn alert & highly trained operator listening for the high pitched "whirr" of the torpedo. The probability of detection is 60% at best, and that's with modern equipment seen most commonly with major navies. Patrol boats, such as this one, are pretty much phuked.

Incoming missiles are more easily detected. Practically every ship has some sort of air search radar.

John Wayne was full of poop.

Thank you for that info sir....HOWEVER, I must immediately discount all of it as mindless drivel after your unwarranted attack on the manliest man to ever live...2nd only to Arnold.

[GH2001]

Thank you for that info sir....HOWEVER, I must immediately discount all of it as mindless drivel after your unwarranted attack on the manliest man to ever live...2nd only to Arnold.

Aheemmmmm....you mean 3rd, right?

[Pell City Tiger]

Thank you for that info sir....HOWEVER, I must immediately discount all of it as mindless drivel after your unwarranted attack on the manliest man to ever live...2nd only to Arnold.

To better understand naval tactics & weaponry, I suggest Glenn Ford movies. The Duke was better suited for injun slaughtering and the army.

[Saniflush]

To better understand naval tactics & weaponry, I suggest Glenn Ford movies. The Duke was better suited for injun slaughtering and the army.

Sgt. Striker says you are full of shit.  He like killin' japs more than breathing.

[Pell City Tiger]

Sgt. Striker says you are full of shit.  He like killin' japs more than breathing.

Yeah, but he let his guard down on the sands of Iwo Jima. Had a moment of niceness and a Lucky Strike with the boys then got kilt to deaf by a jap sniper. Glenn Ford never gave those bastards the honor of getting a shot off at him. He personally fucked up the Imperial navy with a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Never spilt a drop of joe at Midway.