5 ms·

This is a great example of a generalization gone well beyond the end of its usefulness. This has no relation to a torpedo at all except that the localized mech

This is a great example of a generalization gone well beyond the end of its usefulness. This has no relation to a torpedo at all except that the localized mechanical force exceeds what the material can handle. But that's how every, cutting bending shearing, swaging, grinding, etc, etc operation works.

NikolaeVarius 6y ago
Hah. "They both break things by applying force. Amazing coincidence"
- tim333 6y ago
  Both breaking ships though.
  - meowface 6y ago
    And by applying upward force to a localized point beneath the ships. I actually found the comparison fairly helpful.
Spivak 6y ago
I think it's more that "hey you might assume that ships are these big strong things that you can't just cut through but that's a misconception; they're actually weak enough they can't even support their own weight -- a fact that was exploited by torpedo designers."
- Accujack 6y ago
  It's also not true for some ships, depending on exactly what you're talking about. It isn't just being forced to support its own weight by a bubble that sinks ships... it's the force applied in the direction it's applied by the explosion of the torpedo. Most hulls aren't designed to handle a sudden non uniform upward moving force in their middle accompanied by a shock wave.
Accujack 6y ago
Well put. I wish the article had more information about the chain itself. I've seen this done with diamond cutters on wire rope (like used for the Kursk) but not with chain. From the look of it, the chain has the outside of the links coated with abrasive?
- throwaway0a5e 6y ago
  I assume it's just a big f-ing chain and they hardfaced the crap out of it. This is the salvage industry so they tend to go for low buck solutions like that for a variety of reasons.
- tim333 6y ago
  From the photos it doesn't look like the chain is abrading the steel of the ship, more tearing it in the way you can tear aluminium foil with your hands.
gist 6y ago
I thought the comment was interesting. I wouldn't assume that all readers are looking for exact tech info or already knows what was said or thought about it. Perhaps instead of saying 'This related to, but not the same as' the commenter could have just said 'this reminds me of'. Very few people need to know this or will use the info and if they do they wouldn't rely on an HN comment just reading out of curiosity.

NikolaeVarius 6y ago

Hah. "They both break things by applying force. Amazing coincidence"

tim333 6y ago
Both breaking ships though.
- meowface 6y ago
  And by applying upward force to a localized point beneath the ships. I actually found the comparison fairly helpful.

Spivak 6y ago

I think it's more that "hey you might assume that ships are these big strong things that you can't just cut through but that's a misconception; they're actually weak enough they can't even support their own weight -- a fact that was exploited by torpedo designers."

Accujack 6y ago
It's also not true for some ships, depending on exactly what you're talking about. It isn't just being forced to support its own weight by a bubble that sinks ships... it's the force applied in the direction it's applied by the explosion of the torpedo. Most hulls aren't designed to handle a sudden non uniform upward moving force in their middle accompanied by a shock wave.

Accujack 6y ago

Well put. I wish the article had more information about the chain itself. I've seen this done with diamond cutters on wire rope (like used for the Kursk) but not with chain. From the look of it, the chain has the outside of the links coated with abrasive?

throwaway0a5e 6y ago
I assume it's just a big f-ing chain and they hardfaced the crap out of it. This is the salvage industry so they tend to go for low buck solutions like that for a variety of reasons.
tim333 6y ago
From the photos it doesn't look like the chain is abrading the steel of the ship, more tearing it in the way you can tear aluminium foil with your hands.

gist 6y ago

I thought the comment was interesting. I wouldn't assume that all readers are looking for exact tech info or already knows what was said or thought about it. Perhaps instead of saying 'This related to, but not the same as' the commenter could have just said 'this reminds me of'. Very few people need to know this or will use the info and if they do they wouldn't rely on an HN comment just reading out of curiosity.