Originally Posted by
tdracer
I recall reading an article (probably AW&ST) maybe 40 years ago about a test of a then new US Navy anti-ship weapon (Harpoon?). Anyway, the target was a decommissioned US warship - but fully prepared with all the watertight doors shut, etc.
The missile
didn't have any warhead, but the kinetic energy of the missile impact along with the residual fuel caused such a massive explosion that the target ship broke-up and sank.
Reportedly the Navy was rather unhappy that the target ship sank as they had planned to use it for something else...
I seem. to recall reading that the anti-ship, anti-U-boat, anti-armour rockets used in WW2 on Swordfish, Mosquitos ect. on maritime missions and. by Typhoons overland were equivalent to a 6 inch AP shell and often penetrated the pressure hulls of U-boats and exited the other side leaving 2 large holes which rapidly flooded the hulls.
Momentum is a wonderful thing or not depending on your point of view.