Mark 14 torpedo
Running too deep
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=== Running too deep === |
=== Running too deep === |
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On 24 December 1941, during a war patrol, [[Commander]] [[Tyrell D. Jacobs]] in |
On 24 December 1941, during a war patrol, [[Commander]] [[Tyrell D. Jacobs]] in [[USS|Sargo|SS-188|2]] fired eight torpedoes at two different ships with no results. When two additional merchantmen came in view, Jacobs took extra care to set up his torpedo shots. He pursued the targets for fifty-seven minutes{{Harvnb|Blair|1975|p=141}} and made certain the [[Torpedo Data Computer|TDC]] bearings matched perfectly before firing two torpedoes at each ship from an average range of {{convert|1000|yd|abbr=on}}. The shots should have hit, but all failed to explode.{{Harvnb|Blair|1975|p=140}} |
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A few days later, he discovered the torpedoes were running too deep, and corrected the problem,{{Harvnb|Blair|1975|p=141}}. BuOrd would wait months to do the same. Jacobs detected a big, slow tanker. Again, his approach was meticulous, firing one torpedo at a close range of {{convert|1200|yd|abbr=on}}. It missed. Exasperated, Jacobs broke radio silence to question the Mark 14's reliability.Blair, pp.140-141 & 169 |
A few days later, he discovered the torpedoes were running too deep, and corrected the problem,{{Harvnb|Blair|1975|p=141}}. BuOrd would wait months to do the same. Jacobs detected a big, slow tanker. Again, his approach was meticulous, firing one torpedo at a close range of {{convert|1200|yd|abbr=on}}. It missed. Exasperated, Jacobs broke radio silence to question the Mark 14's reliability.Blair, pp.140-141 & 169 |
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