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I don't think her ammo would have exploded as the incoming water would have quickly extinguished the flames, before it reached her ammunition supply however it is very possible her boilers exploded (steam explosion -cold seawater hitting the boilers)) if the engineers didn't have time to cool them down before she made her plunge. This is in fact what doomed the LUSITANIA (the torpedo only did minor damage, and although it was carrying ammo, the ammo didn't explode) Generall |
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Similar to what have may caused the devasting explosion within the HMHS Britannic, it has been theorized that on that sinking as well, the proposed mine only cause minor damage compared to the theorized boiler explosion after which comprimised her improved saftey measures as compared to her ill fated sister which sank in peace time.
Ships back then were definatlely vunerable to such explosions, which could have enough force to comprise any anti flooding bulkheads onboard, if they were not already heavily damaged via enemy fire, at which any fires below deck could have been in isolated airpockets and the ammunition magiznes could have denoted, under a shallow level of water. Meaning close to the surface, but like you stated it is very unlikely since in a large opening created by bombs and torpedos would have quickly filled with sea water putting out any remaining fires. And reports of explosions heard on her way down, may have been exagerated a bit for the newsreels. Lastly depth, and angle of the striken ship would play a major part in her current condition. On her descent to the bottom, if she capsized you can bet money her turrets, held by gravity if they were not already pentrated would fall free of the gunmounts, and thus be scattered in a debris field on the floor. The then sinking wreck, if not comprised critically would then depending on angle of descent would pick up speed on it's way to the bottom, as the immense hydraulic pressue drove the remaining air pockets out of the ship, large amounts of debris, and interior funishing and hatch covers may have been blown out through any opening on the hull, parts of the super structure would have been undoubly torn away due to the intense forces washing over her decks on the way down, if she righted her self on her way down, the super structure, such as the gunnery tower, radio and communications array would have been torn complely off and most likely lay eslewhere on the ocean bottom. If she was not completely comprimised, her hull may still be relativley intact although damaged from the impact no doubt, if she is broken in two, her final state may be very similar to that of the Ill Fated Hood and a huge mess on the ocean floor, covering dozens of miles on the muddy bottom. Only time will tell I suppose, I will admit, I hope she is found, not disturbed and picked for plunder, for she is a war grave, and hopfully her depth would exclude her from divers apart from submersibles, there by insuring her eternal rest. |
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I hate to drag out a beaten cat, but I found it interesting that apranently a French Oceanograhpy ship using a towed sonar mapping device detected a large "man made mass" roughly near were the U.S. claims the Musashi was sunk in the Visayan Sea area.
What is familiar about these circumstances is that this is how most shipwrecks are found in the past 20 years it seems, as blips on bottom scanning equiptment. No dive was attempted as wreck exploring was not the reason the Researchers were out there. Just food for thought. As for the ammunition concerns, upon researching Musashi's twin sister in her state, various shell and ordance litter her resting place, yet explorers have combed her remains for documentation and retrieval of artifacts for the Yamato's various muesum exhibits. I suppose it all comes down to what happend on the Musashi's ammunition storage compartments and mixing of charges propellants, and shells as they rattled around the inside of the ship as she went down. Also even where exactly they were stored and her interior ammuntion bulkheads remain a mystery as almost all prints of both her and her sister were lost with history. |
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May have another scenario like the Hood, she was utterly scattered when she went down. By Musashi's sister also had an enormous internal explosion, however only her midsection is utterly gone, her bow and stern lie right new to each other rather intact. And considering the condition of the Arizonia (although I understand she sank in very shallow water). A detonating magazine may not have dissasembled the ship entirely. Of course I may be completly wrong, I suppose the only way to be for sure is to wait until the ship is photographed and throughly scanned. |
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