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| Science & Technology |
| Lightweight Guns Sink Destroyers |
| 2006-06-18 |
| On June 7th, the U.S. Navy held another "Sink-Ex" (Sinking Exercise) some 450 kilometers off North Carolina. A Sink-Ex uses decommissioned navy ships for target practice, or, as in this case, to test new tactics. What the navy wanted to examine was the ability of current naval guns (from .50 caliber machine-gun to 5 inch cannon) to disable ships without sinking them. The subjects of the Sink-Ex were two decommissioned Spruance-class destroyers (Comte de Grasse and Stump). These 7,800 ton ships, two of the largest destroyers ever built, were to be first subjected to gunfire, then Harpoon and Maverick missiles from air force B-52 and B-1B bombers overhead. The missiles did not get used, because the hail of gunfire sank the two ships within 90 minutes. With cameras and sensors recording the damage, a variety of guns were turned loose on the ships, to see what kind of damage could be inflicted, how quickly and how accurately. Most of the results are classified, but it did appear that the .50 caliber and 20mm machine-gun were very accurate and effective, and capable of quickly disabling a ship without sinking it. Also tested were 40mm automatic grenade launchers. The two ships were quickly sent to the bottom (12,000 feet below) with 5 inch gun fire directed at the waterline of the two 28 year old ships. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #4 The 5 inch guns of several destroyers were crucial to the eventual success of the divisions landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day. The 5 inch is nothing to sneeze at. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2006-06-18 19:39 |
| #3 5 inch guns was the equipment for large WWII fleet destroyers. The smaller escort destroyers had smaller guns. And of course the 5 inches gun was able to sink a WWII destroyer So it is no wonder it can inflict severe damages on modern destroyers: these are four times larger than their WWII counterparts but are not better armored and modern shells are more effetcive. Also in the real thing the destroyer has a crew who is doing damage control, is taking evasive action and has blown that 50 cal machine gun sky high. |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-06-18 17:35 |
| #2 What a fine complement! I can't imagine anyone was surprised the ships sank exept perhaps media weenies who were salivating over the headline "Lightweight Guns Sink Destroyers". In the real world, anyone pinging a US destroyer with a 5 inch gun would, no doubt, incur stern looks and harsh curses from its crew. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2006-06-18 17:16 |
| #1 5 inch gun on a ship not designed to take damage without a DC party present. Yep, that'll sink it. US ships are so effective because of the US Navy sailors on board. No finer navy, no better sailors in the world that the US Navy. Our sailors make all the difference. And you heard that from an Army guy. |
| Posted by: Oldspook 2006-06-18 16:37 |