Tracking A Cruise Missile

[Carsie]

I hope this hasn't been posted before (tried PH Search) delete if required.

Pretty neat video of tracking the test firing of a cruise missile

http://www.break.com/index/cruising-alongside-a-cr...

[shouldbworking]

Arent anti-ship missiles supposed to do a pop up before impact so they actually make a hole that lets in water rather than a hole that lets in air?

[Simpo Two]

Aren't anti-ship missiles supposed to hit the ship properly and not glance off the top?

[nellyleelephant]

It'll be a dummy warhead.

A real one would make a mess of the ship even if it detonated 30 metres away.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

I don't know if it's on YouTube but, if you get the chance, watch the video of the Nimrod firing trial with the Harpoon missile vs. an old Rothesay Class frigate. The missile (sans warhead) enters the ship and the unspent rocket fuel explodes. This is sufficient to snap the ship in half and send it to the bottom.

[dr_gn]

Simpo Two said:

Aren't anti-ship missiles supposed to hit the ship properly and not glance off the top?

Didn't it go straight through the container on the deck?

I'd have thought at the angle it appeared to be approaching the target, if it glanced off the top it would have gone upwards rather than downwards.

[Simpo Two]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

I don't know if it's on YouTube but, if you get the chance, watch the video of the Nimrod firing trial with the Harpoon missile vs. an old Rothesay Class frigate. The missile (sans warhead) enters the ship and the unspent rocket fuel explodes. This is sufficient to snap the ship in half and send it to the bottom.

Are the Rothsay Class made of cardboard like modern frigates, or 12" armour plate like 'proper' warships?

dr_gn said:

Didn't it go straight through the container on the deck?

I'd have thought at the angle it appeared to be approaching the target, if it glanced off the top it would have gone upwards rather than downwards.

It went straight through something and into the sea on the other side. But if you are trying to sink a ship it would seem better to hit the hull, ideally on the waterline, and not simply take out a deck fitting.

[dr_gn]

Simpo Two said:

But if you are trying to sink a ship it would seem better to hit the hull, ideally on the waterline, and not simply take out a deck fitting.

Several ways to skin a cat. Don't even have to touch the hull to break a ship in half:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYAWrkvyYdc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_48_torpedo

ETA the other link on the O/P's website "10 Most Epic Girls Failing At Life" is in many ways more impressive than the missile thing...

Edited by dr_gn on Saturday 22 October 00:37