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

Originally Posted by SteamWake

When in doubt blow stuff up

BTW what makes them think this is one of Prien's fish? Surely there were others fired in this area.

Maybe it had "To Churchill, with love. - Prien" written on it.

[GoldenRivet]

So far as history is aware... there was only one successful U-boat attack on Scapa Flow.

it seems logical to assume that it was one of Prien's torpedoes.

in all probability - it was one of his torpedoes, however possible that it belonged to another boat or plane.

[Cohaagen]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

When in doubt blow stuff up

BTW what makes them think this is one of Prien's fish? Surely there were others fired in this area.

When in doubt...blow everything up . Looks fun, anyway.

Scapa Flow was always the fleet's protected anchorage, so I'm pretty sure they never used torpedoes there. Loch Long was the RN main torpedo range from the 1910s until the end of the Cold War (there are still derelict shoreside facilities there). Besides, G7 torpedoes must be pretty distinguishable, no matter how encrusted, to those whose job it is to destroy them - there are still lots of legacy WWII German munitions in and around the UK that are disposed of in controlled detonations right to this day, and will be well into the future.

In any case, I don't think the museum at Lyness needs any more reminders of the Royal Oak. They've got lots there already.

[August]

Maybe a torp from one of the scuttled German imperial fleet?

[Cohaagen]

Originally Posted by August

Maybe a torp from one of the scuttled German imperial fleet?

Good call, but as I remember the Imperial Fleet had to disarm their weapons before handing themselves over under the terms of the Armistice. Their batteries had essential components removed from their breeches, etc., and were inspected after arriving at Scapa. The scuttled fleet was almost totally salvaged in the 20s and 30s, I can't imagine them missing something like that.

It must be one of Prien's. It's either that, or an RN practice torpedo in an area they never practised in.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Cohaagen

Good call, but as I remember the Imperial Fleet had to disarm their weapons before handing themselves over under the terms of the Armistice. Their batteries had essential components removed from their breeches, etc., and were inspected after arriving at Scapa. The scuttled fleet was almost totally salvaged in the 20s and 30s, I can't imagine them missing something like that.

It must be one of Prien's. It's either that, or an RN practice torpedo in an area they never practised in.

Catch it ! CATCH I ! .... kerplunk...

Ummm errr okay we have 9 torpedos instead of 10 got it

[FIREWALL]

With it destroyed we'll never know. Thx Experts.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

With it destroyed we'll never know. Thx Experts.

After 30 years immersed in the ocean you would have a tough time finding out anyhow. Any identifying marks are long gone and the whole thing was probably encrusted with barnicales and such.

Kind of supprissing it would float after all that.

Wonder if the warhead is still stuck in the mud.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

After 30 years immersed in the ocean you would have a tough time finding out anyhow. Any identifying marks are long gone and the whole thing was probably encrusted with barnicales and such.

Kind of supprissing it would float after all that.

Wonder if the warhead is still stuck in the mud.

I really can't imagine them going to the bother of searching for it.....in these days of budget cuts

[Freiwillige]

Actually it is quite easy to tell what kind of torpedo it is. Its propeller, tailfin, diameter and any paint. All countries used their own torpedo designs and all were different. Different lengths, different weight.

It was taken to Scapa pier 9 before being towed off for destruction so I am sure the "Experts" got a look at it before deciding that boom at sea is better than boom on shore.

Also if you look at www.u47.org you can see that a few German torpedo's Prien fired were misses and duds and I can assure you that those were the only German WWII torps fired in scapa Flow

[Letum]

Good shot Prien!
Don't let the near miss bother you.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Freiwillige

Actually it is quite easy to tell what kind of torpedo it is. Its propeller, tailfin, diameter and any paint. All countries used their own torpedo designs and all were different. Different lengths, different weight.

It was taken to Scapa pier 9 before being towed off for destruction so I am sure the "Experts" got a look at it before deciding that boom at sea is better than boom on shore.

Also if you look at www.u47.org you can see that a few German torpedo's Prien fired were misses and duds and I can assure you that those were the only German WWII torps fired in scapa Flow

Thing is propellor and tailfns were probably a big chunk of barnicale, coral, kelp and the like. If the tailfins were still attached at all.

Hey heres a question. Did these torpedoes use bronze probellors?

The bronze would have held up quite well I would think.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Thing is propellor and tailfns were probably a big chunk of barnicale, coral, kelp and the like. If the tailfins were still attached at all.

Hey heres a question. Did these torpedoes use bronze probellors?

The bronze would have held up quite well I would think.

I doubt it...but the propellors may have been bronze and may have held up quite well

j/k...sorry, couldn't resist

[FIREWALL]

On second thought, I can see why the brit RN would want to quickly blow it up and let the news die.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

On second thought, I can see why the brit RN would want to quickly blow it up and let the news die.

I honestly don't think that would be the case.....tis common knowledge who prevailed in the end.

I think this decision was taken in good faith after considering the safety of locals in the vicinity and the possibility of a mishap then the ensuing criticism for not dealing with a potentially hazardous situation effectively.