Navy investigates drone mishap

[unhappycamper]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/nov/18/chancellorsville-drone-investigation/?st



Why did 13-foot drone not turn away from ship, as programmed?

Navy investigates drone mishap
By Jeanette Steele
8:19 p.m.Nov. 18, 2013

Two Navy investigations will look into why a 13-foot drone used for target practice slammed into the side of the cruiser Chancellorsville on Saturday afternoon, leaving two sailors with minor burns.

The Navy on Monday said Capt. Rich Haidvogel, chief of staff for the Pacific strike force training command in Coronado, will lead the analysis that will eventually become public.

The Naval Air Systems Command will do an internal investigation that focuses on safety.

The Chancellorsville returned to its San Diego pier on Sunday for assessment. In addition to a hole in the ship’s superstructure just above the deck, there was some internal damage, a Naval Surface Forces spokesman said.

[DetlefK]

1. Now that's a dent.

I wonder how thick the armour is at this spot.

[unhappycamper]

2. Here's a hi-res pic:

Maybe an inch and a half or so?

[DetlefK]

3. My estimates were totally wrong.

I was thinking, warships have about 4 inches of armour, because they are supposed to withstand high-caliber-shells. (The front-armour of a tank is about 1 foot, but I guess that would add too much weight.)

[Angleae]

5. What armor?

That last warship with any substantial amount of armor was USS Long Beach. These days it's aluminum & kevlar for fragment protection and thats it.

[HooptieWagon]

4. I don't think the guided missle cruisers are heavily armored.

At least above the waterline. Perhaps some internal compartments are, like engineroom and firecontrol.