Article

2010-03-26 China-Japan-Koreas

South Korean navy ship 'sinking near North

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Posted by 3dc 2010-03-26 11:07|| || Front Page|| [15 views ] Top

#1 If not the 48 hour rule, at least a 24 hour rule to apply here?

RB Naval types - how about a mine? Any chance the NK's laid a mine? Would it possibly strike the "rear of the ship"?

I see no mention of air based attack, either missile or aircraft, so I guess we're down to self-inflicted accident, torpedo/naval gunfire, or mine.

Regardless, not a good result.

Posted by Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2010-03-26 12:36|| 2010-03-26 12:36|| Front Page Top

#2 Now, Halliburton, you know it was your own hidden onboard bomb that did it, as part of your scheme to incite war between the Koreas so you can profiteer on it.

Posted by Glenmore 2010-03-26 12:42|| 2010-03-26 12:42|| Front Page Top

#3 Update. The sinking (sunk?) ship is the Cheonan (PCC-772) of the Pohang class.

Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2010-03-26 12:48|| 2010-03-26 12:48|| Front Page Top

#4 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Military officials say a South Korean navy ship has sunk off an island not far from North Korea.

An official with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said early Saturday that the ship sank some four hours after it began taking on water. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with department policy.

The official said at least 58 of the 104 crew members have been rescued. There was no immediate confirmation of casualties. A rescue operation was still under way.

The cause of the sinking was not immediately clear.

Posted by tu3031 2010-03-26 13:01|| 2010-03-26 13:01|| Front Page Top

#5 this is how our enemies respond to weakness. we don't know this was Nork attack or not, but it was it is only the beginning. The enemies of freedom smell blood in the water and will be on the offensive strongly soon.

Posted by abu do you love 2010-03-26 13:12|| 2010-03-26 13:12|| Front Page Top

#6 I saw a reference on the net; some of these ships are equipped for anti-surface-warfare, and some are equipped for anti-submarine stuff.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-03-26 13:15|| 2010-03-26 13:15|| Front Page Top

#7 Has Obama surrendered yet and apologized to Kimmie?

Posted by Silentbrick 2010-03-26 13:19|| 2010-03-26 13:19|| Front Page Top

#8 Navy Type, reporting as requested
It's possible for a mine to hit and explode on a ship's rear, they can be pushed aside by the Bow wave, and be pulled in by the suction at the stern.
That said, I go with the Torpedo theory, although this would be an act of war, it's very likely as a diversion from NOR-K's people Starving, we reported here that Kimmie was looking for a diversion, war is a good one.

Don't forget the War's NOT ended, Only an Armistice (Stop shooting a while) in effect, and can "Resume" at will.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2010-03-26 13:28|| 2010-03-26 13:28|| Front Page Top

#9 Wouldn't a homing torpedo typically go towards where the screws are? (Assuming it's not something really fancy or anything; assume it's a homing torpedo from WW2 or something like that. And yes, they had them back then.)

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-03-26 13:32|| 2010-03-26 13:32|| Front Page Top

#10 Unless the USN wants to go hunting, which it usually does, the SKOR will get their own payback, with interest.

They have three new Sohn Wonyil class (German 214 design), and nine Changbogo-class (German Type U-209s), against the Norks 26 Romeo class subs, built in the 1950s, and four Whiskey class Russian subs from the same period.

No idea what type of torpedoes the SKOR use, other than that they are 533mm, which is the same as the US MK-48.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-03-26 13:39|| 2010-03-26 13:39|| Front Page Top

#11 NKor was obviously provoked to violence by Sarah Palin and the Republicans.

Posted by Iblis 2010-03-26 13:42|| 2010-03-26 13:42|| Front Page Top

#12 So all we really need to do is glue antlers to all the north korean shipping.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-03-26 13:44|| 2010-03-26 13:44|| Front Page Top

#13 Thanks Redneck Jim - I sorta thought as much, but agree that a torpedo is more likely.

Still - not at all a good thing, seeing as how a sinking is now reported, and this was a very large ship. (Off to Jane's to check the ROK fleet).

As for the "diversion" idea - I dunno - how much more diverted can the Norks get? At some point won't the Chinese just up and say "whatever, we don't care"?

I expect we'll learn a lot about treaty obligations in the next few days, as well as chain of command. Is the UNSN Comfort still in Haiti? Ugh.

Posted by Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2010-03-26 13:45|| 2010-03-26 13:45|| Front Page Top

#14 From what I read, the USNS Comfort left Haiti and is back in Baltimore, Halliburton.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2010-03-26 14:17|| 2010-03-26 14:17|| Front Page Top

#15 Thanks AP - don't know where I got UNSN - sounds like something the UN would include in their hypothetical naval revenue service.

Posted by Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2010-03-26 14:21|| 2010-03-26 14:21|| Front Page Top

#16 Navy type reporting, also. The Chinese and NorKs have sea bottom secured mines that will release upon detection of vibrations and/or magnetic signature. But they have to be "programmed".

Posted by anymouse 2010-03-26 14:25|| 2010-03-26 14:25|| Front Page Top

#17 Fox news reporting an internal munitions explosion, not a North Korean attack.

Posted by bman 2010-03-26 14:43|| 2010-03-26 14:43|| Front Page Top

#18 I've seen quite a few guesstimates on what caused this attack, but one I haven't heard, and one that is probably the most likely, is a NORK sea-skimming anti-ship missile. The North Korean navy has quite a few small anti-ship patrol boats that carry Russian anti-ship missiles. Hide one behind an island, pop out for a minute, shoot,and hide again. A lot of those islands and land areas around that part of North Korea have tunnels carved in them for just such a purpose. Remember the damage a "Silkworm" did to the Israeli navy ship in 2006. The NORKS have "Silkworm" missiles.

Posted by Old Patriot 2010-03-26 14:51|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/ 2010-03-26 14:51|| Front Page Top

#19 The USNS Hope, sister-ship to the USNS Comfort, is home-ported in either San Diego or Bremerton, Washington, can't remember which. No need for the COMFORT to make the long journey around.

Posted by Old Patriot 2010-03-26 14:53|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/ 2010-03-26 14:53|| Front Page Top

#20 Has President Obama said that the South Koreans acted stupidly?

Posted by Harry Elmatch8053 2010-03-26 15:42|| 2010-03-26 15:42|| Front Page Top

#21 FYI: CAPTOR type mine satisfies both the mine and torpedo theory.

And the ship sinking so fast indicates that sort of an attack. ASM, even sea skimmers take a while to sink a ship. Mines similar. Torps on the other hand will sink a ship fast.

SKOR navy will be getting very very aggressive as long as their politicians don't choke them on s short leash.

In most times, this would be considered an act of war.

Posted by OldSpook 2010-03-26 15:59|| 2010-03-26 15:59|| Front Page Top

#22 All of the above is assuming it was an attack.

ASM not likely to cause catastrophic and immediate failure unless it takes out an ammo compartment.

Fox I do not trust any more; its spinning things however the Saudis want it spun or else spinning to curry favor with the left.

Posted by OldSpook 2010-03-26 16:02|| 2010-03-26 16:02|| Front Page Top

#23

Fox I do not trust any more; its spinning things however the Saudis want it spun or else spinning to curry favor with the left.

I also have noticed this. That really bodes ill, because it will take some time before the less astute realize that fact. Some really nasty stuff, this way comes.

Posted by Secret Asian Man 2010-03-26 16:08|| 2010-03-26 16:08|| Front Page Top

#24 I'm back to the 48 rule, instead of 24. Not enough facts yet, and plenty of speculation.

As bad as the Iowa accident was, has any ship ever sunk itself by accident with onboard munitions, which discounts the Maine and Vasa events? Could the ROK have really done this to itself?

I don't know what Occam would say yet, so its back to a 2 day wait.

Posted by Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2010-03-26 16:30|| 2010-03-26 16:30|| Front Page Top

#25 There were quite a few naval vessels sunk by magazine explosions. These are just some significant cases from WWI - major vessels, battleships, heavy cruisers, etc.

http://www.gwpda.org/naval/thist24.htm

There have been many many more over the years, but rather few in recent decades (other than among Soviet and ex-Soviet vessels possibly)

Posted by buwaya 2010-03-26 18:18|| 2010-03-26 18:18|| Front Page Top

#26 My father was an F-4 flyer off the USS Coral Sea during Vietnam.
They got a commendation after patrolling the coash of North Korea.
Those frakers are crazy.

Posted by Mizzou Mafia 2010-03-26 18:50|| 2010-03-26 18:50|| Front Page Top

#27 won't the Chinese just up and say "whatever, we don't care

I'm afraid not. Without going into a long explanation, China's policy (and I understand it is written into its constitution) is to regain all territory lost 'under duress' in 'unfair treaties'. North Korea was a vassal state of China for several hundred years prior to the rise of Japan in the 19th century. Historically its relationship to China was similar to that of Tibet and we all know what happened to Tibet.

My guess is that if push comes to shove, ie the alternative is NKor is lost to the 'West', China will annex N Korea.

Posted by phil_b 2010-03-26 18:59|| 2010-03-26 18:59|| Front Page Top

#28 Ala FREEREPUBLIC/FOXNEWS AM > seems a SOKOR warship has fired on an unidentified vessel, ostens believed to be NOKOR at this time. SOKOR MIL OFFICIALS ARE DOWNPLAYING THE INCIDENT, claiming that it is dubious or inconclusive as to whether the NOKORS = DPRK is involved.

My first thought was that it was a NK CAPTIVE MINE given prelimar News reports on the stern blast. The SOKORS are very mindful of NOKOR Commandoes using Underwater, Riverine, andor Ooastal crafts to sneak over the LAnd-Sea DMZ = LoD.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2010-03-26 20:39|| na 2010-03-26 20:39|| Front Page Top

#29 The USNS Hope, sister-ship to the USNS Comfort, is home-ported in either San Diego or Bremerton, Washington, can't remember which.

USNS Mercy is home-ported in San Diego.

Posted by Pappy 2010-03-26 21:57|| 2010-03-26 21:57|| Front Page Top

#30 yep - 32nd street, which saw the homecoming of the Nimitz strike group - the Nimitz Carrier arrived at North Island. There was a lot of rejoicing (we were pouring bridge deck by the Convention Center and saw several ships come in) - and no doubt new American patriots conceived tonight

Posted by Frank G 2010-03-26 22:40|| 2010-03-26 22:40|| Front Page Top

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