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China-Japan-Koreas
S. Korea: Cheonan's Bow Salvaged (pics)
2010-04-25
Pic posting (lots of 'em). HT FR. Couldn't find the original posting link
Posted by:logi_cal

#8  NOKOR's Cold War torpedoes + mines were intended to deter or destroy the powerful, heavy or big steel vessels of an "INCHON II" = MACARTHUR'S NAVY, US + UK + JAPAN + now SOKOR, notsomuch a lightly armed, light composite coastal defense craft like the CHEONAN. IN A MAJOR WAR. THEIR MINI-SUBS + RELAT NAVAL SAPPERS WEREN'T INTENDED TO SURVIVE ANY NOKOR COMMANDO STRIKE ON OFFSHORE US-ALLIED AMPHIB FLEETS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-04-25 22:54  

#7  I'm thinking there's some sort of composite (that is, fiberglass) material for radar absorption purposes. I saw what you're talking about with the domes over the guns -- those are likely composite shells. This ship was designed to duke it out in the shallows with Nork speedboats and "fishing vessels" and such so I don't think the whole superstructure is fiberglass.

I thought I'd read a Chosan Ilbo report that the superstructure, but not the hull, had indeed failed along a weld, but I can't find it.
Posted by: Pstanley   2010-04-25 20:07  

#6  also anywhere the superstructure is scraped, where thegrey paint is off the underlay has the exact Yellow of fiberglass.
Either it IS fiberglass, or the shipyard used a very odd base paint.

When I painted OUR ships, the steel grey went all the way through and any base coat was red. (My ship was drydocked, sandblasted and repainted from the hull out)
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2010-04-25 18:28  

#5  They obviously didn't want anyone looking at the stern too closely, but the pics while suspended by the Chains/Cranes, has puzzling shears, if the welds did faail look for a huge suit against the shipbuilder.

What I'm refering to, look at the domes around the Guns, that sure looks like smashed fiberglass to me, NOT Steel.
Als the top of the rear topmost deck loks like fiberglass, not steel plates.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2010-04-25 18:21  

#4  Redneck Jim:

I think that the fairly clean sheer is probably a result of military ordinance. And if you look closely under the netting, you'll see some twisted metal. This photo, however, suggests to me that part of the superstructure failed along the weld, which shouldn't happen.
Posted by: Pstanley   2010-04-25 14:02  

#3  With that green netting over the rear, you can't see where the actual damage is. The rest of the damage is caused by the ship rolling around on the bottom of the ocean, pushed by currents, or from the salvage operation itself.

If South Korea asks to borrow a dozen or so tac nukes, I'd be willing to give them to them.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2010-04-25 13:33  

#2  Commenter from link:

External explosion -- well-placed for maximum damage to a ship of this class...

Torpedo or directly placed contact charge... Getting that precise placement with a static mine is highly unlikely (more like pure, rotten luck...).

This was a controlled and deliberate attack.
Posted by: gromky   2010-04-25 13:30  

#1  Hmmm, after looking closely at those pictures, I do NOT see broken steel, I see broken fiberglass (Hull and superstructure) very odd.

PS I'm a steelworker, just doesn't look Right, it's broken in flat slabs and with straightedges, steel twists and bends NOT breaking off straight and flat.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2010-04-25 12:22  

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