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Circular Torpedo Runs

Printed From: Rontini Submarine BBS
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Forum Name: U.S. Submarine History
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URL: http://RontiniSubmarineBBS.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5849
Printed Date: 01 May 2024 at 5:38pm
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Topic: Circular Torpedo Runs
Posted By: Rontini599
Subject: Circular Torpedo Runs
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2021 at 9:53am
Sidebar – US subs and Circular Run Torpedoes
USS Tang (SS-306), 25 October 1944. The Mark 18 torpedo broached and curved to the left
in a circular run. Tang fishtailed under emergency power to clear the turning circle of the
torpedo, but it struck her abreast the aft torpedo room approximately 20 seconds after it
was fired. The explosion was violent, and people as far forward as the control room received
broken limbs. The ship went down by the stern with the after three compartments flooded.
Nine survivors, including the commanding officer, were picked up the next morning by a
Japanese destroyer escort.
USS Tullibee ( SS-284), 25 March 1944. Two torpedoes fired during a surface approach.
One of the torpedoes (either a Mark 14, 18 or 23 torpedo) ran a circular course and
sank the submarine that had launched it. There was a single survivor, who also survived
imprisonment by the Japanese.
USS Ta utog (SS-199), 16 May 1942. One of two torpedoes fired was heard making a circular
run and the sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it.
USS Sargo (SS-188), 25 September 1942. One of the five torpedoes fired ran a circular path,
exploding off the sub’s stern. The torpedo accidentally ran a circular course...the cause
for the torpedo’s malfunction was that the gyro had not been installed (a torpedo man
discovered the gyro in its storage can after the fish had been fired), so the torpedo’s path of
travel was entirely random. USS Greenling (SS-213), 18 October 1942. Two torpedoes fired during a surface approach
circled back around, both passing close aboard.
USS Seawolf (SS-197), 3 November 1942. One torpedo was heard making a circular run and
the sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it.
USS Triton (SS-201), 6 March 1943. One torpedo was heard making a circular run and the
sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it. USS Trigger (SS-237), 15 March 1943. Five torpedoes were fired, and one circled around
and passed directly over the engine room. Shaken by the near miss, the sub’s crew broke
off the attack.
USS Harder ( SS-257), 20 November 1943. One of five torpedoes fired during a surface
approach circled back around, forcing the sub to break off the attack and submerge in order
to avoid being hit.
USS Barb (SS-220), 8 September 1944. One torpedo was heard making a circular run and
the sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it.
USS Blueback ( SS-326), October 1944. One of three torpedoes fired was heard making a
circular run. The sub dived for the depths and the torpedo was heard passing over the after
battery hatch (slightly aft of amidships).
USS Tinosa ( SS-283), 10 June 1945. One of three torpedoes fired was heard making a
circular run. The sub dived for the depths and the torpedo was heard passing overhead.
The sub dove deeper as a second pass was anticipated, but the torpedo never came back.

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My heroes wear dog tags, not shoulder pads



Replies:
Posted By: SaltiDawg
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2021 at 9:55am
There have been additional circular runs post-WWII involving exercise shots.


Posted By: PaulR
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2021 at 7:28am
True.  USS SEA ROBIN 1964 MK 14 hit us high up on the starboard sail.

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Paul

http://ss-407.net" rel="nofollow">

ETN2(SS) 63-67




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