https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion
Here is a link to a wikipedia article on the Great Halifax Explosion. In summary an ammunition ship blew up in Halifax harbour in 1917 with a force roughly equivalent to a 3 Kiloton blast. It was a disaster for the city of Halifax.
Could it have been possible to use a common ordinary merchant steamer as a weapon against an enemy anchorage or harbour? Packed with 7 or 8 thousands tons of Torpex I would guesstimate the explosive force would be nearly 10 Kilotons. If the ship could be sailed into close vicinity of the targets it would likely destroy them.
But the ship would need to be disguised as belonging to which ever Axis nation that is being attacked merchant fleet. So the ship would need be some old cargo steamer of the common type operated by everybody post WW1 up to WW2. Of course it would be flying the enemy's flag as it approached the harbour or anchorage.
How to get the ship near to its target? It would need to be sailed along a very carefully planned route taking advantage of night time and bad weather to avoid as much as possible naval and air patrols. The ship would also be escorted by a submarine.
The submarine is a necessary part of the plan for 3 reasons. To protect the ship enroute if it is stopped by an enemy patrol vessel. To remove the ships' crew just before the final run in to target. And to provide helm steering guidance via a remote control via a radio link. The sub, at periscope depth follows the ship at a safe distance (about 2 miles or so) observing the ship and with its antenna extending above the surface transmits signals to steer the ship into its targets.
I think the cargo ships' engines could be rigged to operate without attention for a few hours. And steering the ship remotely solves the ethical problem of finding someone to conn the ship on its last voyage. Would the Allies consider asking or using a few volunteers for a certain death mission? I don't think so.
Would would be the reaction of the coastal battery or naval patrol to the approach of an unarmed and harmless looking medium sized freighter puttering in at about 5 or 6 knots flying their flag? It's not answering hails or displaying the correct signal lights or signal flags.
Just to complete the disguise there should be some deck cargo like a few trucks or cattle in pens and other innocuous looking things.
How would the enemy react? They have no idea what it really is. Now the ship is not expected and it's not following protocol. But would they start shelling or bombing an obviously harmless looking merchant ship flying their flag because someone screwed up? Who would be in a hurry to make that decision that apparently entails destroying one of your own ships? Why hurry? "Let's just wait until it arrives at the dock and then we can sort out this silly bastard."
With a 10 Kiloton blast that ship doesn't have to be right on top of the intended targets. And it would be fitted with multiple redundant detonators using contact, timing and and radio from the submarine to ensure that there is no chance of the ship failing to explode.
Because this operation is dependant on subterfuge the Allies will only get one chance to conduct an attack like this one. So the target must be chosen carefully to take advantage of the maximum effect. It also must be a target that has merchant ships showing up frequently.
So where to detonate a 10 Kiloton bomb ship?
Hamburg, where the U-boats are being constructed?
Truk, the big fleet anchorage and base for the IJN?
What are other appropriate targets?
Here is a link to a wikipedia article on the Great Halifax Explosion. In summary an ammunition ship blew up in Halifax harbour in 1917 with a force roughly equivalent to a 3 Kiloton blast. It was a disaster for the city of Halifax.
Could it have been possible to use a common ordinary merchant steamer as a weapon against an enemy anchorage or harbour? Packed with 7 or 8 thousands tons of Torpex I would guesstimate the explosive force would be nearly 10 Kilotons. If the ship could be sailed into close vicinity of the targets it would likely destroy them.
But the ship would need to be disguised as belonging to which ever Axis nation that is being attacked merchant fleet. So the ship would need be some old cargo steamer of the common type operated by everybody post WW1 up to WW2. Of course it would be flying the enemy's flag as it approached the harbour or anchorage.
How to get the ship near to its target? It would need to be sailed along a very carefully planned route taking advantage of night time and bad weather to avoid as much as possible naval and air patrols. The ship would also be escorted by a submarine.
The submarine is a necessary part of the plan for 3 reasons. To protect the ship enroute if it is stopped by an enemy patrol vessel. To remove the ships' crew just before the final run in to target. And to provide helm steering guidance via a remote control via a radio link. The sub, at periscope depth follows the ship at a safe distance (about 2 miles or so) observing the ship and with its antenna extending above the surface transmits signals to steer the ship into its targets.
I think the cargo ships' engines could be rigged to operate without attention for a few hours. And steering the ship remotely solves the ethical problem of finding someone to conn the ship on its last voyage. Would the Allies consider asking or using a few volunteers for a certain death mission? I don't think so.
Would would be the reaction of the coastal battery or naval patrol to the approach of an unarmed and harmless looking medium sized freighter puttering in at about 5 or 6 knots flying their flag? It's not answering hails or displaying the correct signal lights or signal flags.
Just to complete the disguise there should be some deck cargo like a few trucks or cattle in pens and other innocuous looking things.
How would the enemy react? They have no idea what it really is. Now the ship is not expected and it's not following protocol. But would they start shelling or bombing an obviously harmless looking merchant ship flying their flag because someone screwed up? Who would be in a hurry to make that decision that apparently entails destroying one of your own ships? Why hurry? "Let's just wait until it arrives at the dock and then we can sort out this silly bastard."
With a 10 Kiloton blast that ship doesn't have to be right on top of the intended targets. And it would be fitted with multiple redundant detonators using contact, timing and and radio from the submarine to ensure that there is no chance of the ship failing to explode.
Because this operation is dependant on subterfuge the Allies will only get one chance to conduct an attack like this one. So the target must be chosen carefully to take advantage of the maximum effect. It also must be a target that has merchant ships showing up frequently.
So where to detonate a 10 Kiloton bomb ship?
Hamburg, where the U-boats are being constructed?
Truk, the big fleet anchorage and base for the IJN?
What are other appropriate targets?