We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:08:11 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Thank God there were no incoming boogies... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:35:08 -0600 @Mike:  The ERYX thing is both scary and knee slapper at the same time.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97674 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97674 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:01:31 -0600 Stark as well, but I don't remember the mention of the rocket motor.  It was more all the little mistakes that made the incident more trouble that it could have otherwise been.  Like the guy not properly stowing his skivvies, and them getting sucked up into the pump system slowing down the de-flooding, and the guy who took the chain holding a cover on the phone jack, so the circuit shorted causing communication problems.

For all the focus on Damage Control, continuously maintaining and testing watertight integrity, it sure doesn't take much for one thing to spiral out of control.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97661 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97661 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:06:42 -0600 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97643 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97643 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:04:21 -0600 USS Stark incident, which was set afire by the burning of the sustain motor on the Exocet rather than the warhead, the Australian Navy was very interested in the process.  My wife was then attached to the Proof and Experimental branch, and they set up a test of a modified rocket motor that they wanted to trial on an old aluminium-structure destroyer before it was scuttled as a reef.  To reduce problems with thrust, they modified/cut off the nozzle.  A test was organised when the execs were present and everyone went to the control bunker to watch the test.  It started OK, but then some pressure anomalies resulted in the missile motor exploding and spreading burning propellant everywhere!  There was quite a delay before anyone could leave the bunker while the outside area was checked for burning or unburnt propellant chunks. An embarrassing fail by the boffins!]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97633 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97633 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:16:59 -0600
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axk76-LS6uc&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGf-sS4js5Y

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97624 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97624 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:22:54 -0600
It also reminded me of why firefighting skills on a wartime vessel (or any vessel, for that matter) is kinda important. I think it made a difference in the Pacific in WWII (we were better at it than the Japs, or so I'm told).

OBTW, mebbe the Navy's different, but we always spelled it "Bogie." (Boogie is something you pick.) Also, one usually doesn't fire at bogies, it's the "bandits" we engage. One is a confirmed hostile, the other isn't. Just curious--what's standard ROE vis-a-vis terminology/engagement in the USN? -Attila
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97611 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97611 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:50:25 -0600 Sea Dart.  I believe the Brits are the sole operator now, and all their modern gear is VLS, so odds are it's one of the old Type 42 DDGs.  The Type 82s had their Sea Dart on the quarterdeck.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97595 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97595 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:23:52 -0600
We sort of had a similar incident.  Firing a test ASROC from the MK26, had a malfucntion in the latches that hold it, they are supposed to open after X-pounds of thrust, letting it fly.  Problem is, the linkages to the latches were worn, and did not release.  That thing burned on the rail until the fuel was expended.

Was sort of amusing seeing the fire party advance with charged hoses, until someone yelled at them the torpedo itself was salt-water activated.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97594 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/01/bring_out_the_s.html#comment-97594 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:05:48 -0600