25-Apr-10 News -- N. Korea's 'human torpedoes'

[John]

25-Apr-10 News -- N. Korea's 'human torpedoes' may have sunk S. Korea's warship


** 25-Apr-10 News -- N. Korea's 'human torpedoes' may have sunk S. Korea's warship
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/cgi ... b#e100425b

Contents:
"N. Korea's 'human torpedoes' may have sunk S. Korea's warship"
"Further violence feared in Thailand as anti-government demands are rejected"
"Additional Links"

[Tom Acre]

Human torpedoes were used in WWII to attack ships in harbor using attachable mines. Their primary advantage was small size and stealth, and they are difficult to operate in open water against moving vessels. Not that it couldn't happen, but... Why would NK use a human torpedoe in that situation, as they have submarines that deploy real torpedoes?

[John]

Dear Tom,

> Human torpedoes were used in WWII to attack ships in harbor using
> attachable mines. Their primary advantage was small size and
> stealth, and they are difficult to operate in open water against
> moving vessels. Not that it couldn't happen, but... Why would NK
> use a human torpedoe in that situation, as they have submarines
> that deploy real torpedoes?

Here is some possible reasoning: They wanted to sink the warship
without the S. Koreans being able to prove what happened. A submarine
would have been spotted in advance on radar, and a torpedo might have
struck the ship, making it obvious what happened. A "human torpedo"
could approach without being spotted, and then explode below the
target ship, so that it's not clear that a torpedo was involved.

John

[thomasglee]

Dear Tom,

Here is some possible reasoning: They wanted to sink the warship
without the S. Koreans being able to prove what happened. A submarine
would have been spotted in advance on radar, and a torpedo might have
struck the ship, making it obvious what happened. A "human torpedo"
could approach without being spotted, and then explode below the
target ship, so that it's not clear that a torpedo was involved.

John

The ROK Navy is much more advanced and better equipped than the norK Navy. Therefore, they would never be able to get close enough to use a real torpedo from a submarine or another ship. Additionally, as you - John - have pointed out, they did not want to make it obvious who sank the ship. The norK's know they cannot win a war with the South and as such, they always seek undertake actions that will give them plausible deniability.

Additionally, the waters in the area where the Choenan was sunk are very shallow and it is difficult for submarines to operate in the area. The scenario as laid out is the most plausible one.

[John]

South Korea Says Torpedo Likely Cause of Warship Sinking

25 April 2010

South Korea's defense minister says a torpedo was the likely cause of
an explosion that sank a warship near the tense border with North
Korea last month.

Defense Minister Kim Tae-young told reporters Sunday that he believes
a bubble jet effect caused by a heavy torpedo is the most likely cause
of the disaster.

A bubble jet is a powerful shock wave and high-pressure gas bubble
resulting from an explosive device detonating beneath a vessel.

Kim was also quoted by the French news agency as saying "various other
possibilities are also under review."

Investigators say there is evidence that the 1,200-ton Cheonan patrol
ship exploded because of a strong impact from the outside. Seoul has
refrained from blaming Pyongyang for the incident until its experts
carry out a thorough investigation. Pyongyang has denied any
involvement.

South Korea raised the front section of the warship with a large crane
Saturday.

A body was found inside the recovered section, bringing the official
death toll to 40. Six sailors remain missing and are believed
dead. The coast guard rescued 58 crew members from waters near the
blast site.

There were 104 sailors on board the ship when it exploded and sank
March 26 during a regular patrol in the waters near the disputed
border with North Korea.

North Korea Saturday warned the United States and South Korea that it
will employ "all means, including the nuclear deterrent" if they
intrude into its territory. The state-run Korean Central News Agency
quotes army chief Ri Yong-Ho as saying North Korea's armed forces are
"fully ready to frustrate any provocation of the aggressors at a
single blow."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday urged Pyongyang not to
"engage in provocative actions," and said she hopes there is no
"miscalculation" or action that could lead to conflict.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/as ... 44479.html