[ARC5] Torpedo Squadron 8

[Gary Pewitt]

And another pity is that even if they had managed to stay alive long 
enough to score some hits the torpedoes were next to worthless as was 
proved later by tests done because of the submariners complaints.  Only 
two torpedoes  were ever tested live because of cost and budgets.  All 
used in action ran at least 15 feet deeper than set, the magnetic 
exploders didn't work at all because of difference in the earth's 
magnetic field, and the contact exploders failed because of poor design 
of the mounting clip allowed them to be pushed back in the torpedo upon 
contact without firing.  Our men were going into battle with rotten 
infective weapons and the situation took over a year to fix.

On 12/28/2014 11:09 AM, Joe Connor via ARC5 wrote:
> The courage of those guys in Torpedo Squadron 8 was unbelievable. When they took off that morning, they knew their planes were obsolete and virtually defenseless against the Japanese Zero. When they began their torpedo run, they knew they had no fighter cover to protect them. Nevertheless, they went in for the attack.Â
> Their sacrifice, and the sacrifice of the other torpedo squadrons, was not in vain. They caused the Zeros to come down low, leaving those Zeros unable to contest the dive bombers that disabled the three Japanese carriers in that part of the battle.
> Interestingly, when George Gay died a while back, he had his ashes scattered in the Pacific in the same spot where Torpedo Squadron 8 had launched its attack that day.
> Joe Connor
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