310 Cheonan: Salvaged torpedo does not match CHT-02D design

Cheonan: Salvaged torpedo does not match CHT-02D design

Study the photos in items 4 & 5. To do so, visit the links.

Notice that earlier reports that the torpedo was of German design (items 1 & 2) , have given way to claims of North Korean design (items 3-4 and 6-7), with no explanation of the change in interpretation.

(1) Cheonan sunk by torpedo of a type made in Germany - Reuters, May 6, 2010
(2) North Korea may have used a German torpedo - South Korean official, May 08, 2010
(3) North Korean CHT-02D torpedo attacked the Cheonan - but questions remain
(4) Full Blueprint of CHT-02D (torpedo that sank Cheonan) cf salvaged torpedo propeller
(5) Salvaged torpedo does not match CHT-02D design
(6) "North Korean general rewarded for sinking Cheonan"
(7) General Kim Myong-guk regained his fourth star after Cheonan sinking - Wash. Times
(8) Japan backs down over transfer of US marine base in Okinawa

(1) Cheonan sunk by torpedo of a type made in Germany - Reuters, May 6, 2010

Probe concludes torpedo sank South Korea ship: report

SEOUL

Thu May 6, 2010 10:19pm EDT

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6460FC20100507

(Reuters) - Investigators probing the deadly sinking of a South Korean navy ship in March near the North have concluded that a torpedo was the source of an explosion that destroyed the vessel, a news report said on Friday.

The team of South Korean and foreign investigators found traces of explosives used in torpedoes on several parts of the sunken ship as well as pieces of composite metal used in such weapons, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said quoting a senior government official.

South Korean officials have not officially accused the North but made little secret of their belief Pyongyang deliberately torpedoed the 1,200-tonne corvette Cheonan in March near their disputed border in retaliation of a naval firefight last year.

The metallic debris and chemical residue appear to be consistent with a type of torpedo made in Germany, indicating the North may have been trying to disguise its involvement by avoiding arms made by allies China and Russia, Yonhap quoted the official as saying.

North Korea has denied involvement and accused South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's government of trying to use the incident for political gains ahead of local elections in June.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; editing by Jon Herskovitz and Sanjeev Miglani)

(2) North Korea may have used a German torpedo - South Korean official, May 08, 2010

Cheonan probe finds RDX, alloy used in torpedoes

Investigators seek source of alloy; U.S.-Korea meeting set for Monday

By Yoo Jee-ho [jeeho@joongang.co.kr]

May 08, 2010

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2920174

Experts investigating the sinking of the Cheonan have identified traces of an explosive in the ship's wreckage and fragments of an alloy used in torpedoes.

According to a government official in Seoul, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity, the joint military and civilian investigation team has found traces of RDX, one of the most powerful military explosives.

"RDX is used in torpedoes, not sea mines," the official said. "The traces were found in the Cheonan's chimney and the damaged side of the stern."

According to the official, investigators also found three to four pieces of metal near the site of the wreck, and analysis showed the fragments were an alloy of aluminum and magnesium, which is used in torpedo casings.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the alloy was made in Germany, China or Russia.

"It's possible that North Korea may have used a German torpedo to disguise its attack, knowing that South Korea uses German torpedoes," the official said.

In light of this finding, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young will meet with U.S. Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of the U.S. Combined Forces Command in Seoul, Monday to discuss their next steps in the ongoing probe.

North Korea has been suspected in the case, though it has denied any responsibility. The latest finding and further analysis could prove such suspicions.

"If this was a torpedo attack, who else could we point to other than North Korea?" said a defense ministry official. " ...

(3) North Korean CHT-02D torpedo attacked the Cheonan - but questions remain

Cheonan Findings Raise More Questions

May 24, 2010 13:40 KST

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/05/24/2010052401483.html

The investigation results in the sinking of the Navy corvette Cheonan were announced last Thursday, but questions and misunderstandings about the evidence presented by the international investigators remain.

? The Torpedo Serial Number

Former unification minister Chung Se-hyun told reporters that the serial number combined with the Korean letter "1 beon" (No. 1), handwritten on the rear of the propulsion shaft of the torpedo that probably sank the Cheonan, is not how the North numbers items since it dates back to Japanese colonial times. Chung said even North Korea's Baekhwawon State Guesthouse uses a different numbering system, and the word "ho" is much more common.

But North Korean defectors deny this, saying the numbering found on the North Korean torpedo is the most commonly used form in the North. North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity, a defectors organization, said "beon" is the most common sequential word used in North Korea, while "ho" is used to distinguish between different types of objects, depending on purpose and use. That means the same parts of a missile produced in a factory would be sequentially numbered "1 beon" and "2 beon," according to the group.

? How Did the Propulsion Shaft Survive the Blast?

Skeptics continue to argue that a blast powerful enough to split the 1,300-ton Cheonan in half could not have left the propulsion device of a 1.2 m torpedo intact. But experts say the typical characteristics of torpedoes and their blasts make this very likely.

The CHT-02D torpedo that attacked the Cheonan is composed of a high-explosive charge in its nozzle, followed by a propulsion battery, a motor and a propeller at the rear. Out of the entire torpedo measuring 7.35 m in length, the warhead is only 70 cm to 80 cm long. Even if it explodes, the propulsion battery that sits between the warhead and the propeller acts as a buffer, experts say. Also, the propulsion system is made of light and sturdy materials that are not easily destroyed, and more often ends up sinking to the bottom of the ocean largely intact.

That is why the investigation team used fishing nets to find the debris. In 2004, the Agency for Defense Development test-fired a locally made torpedo and retrieved portions of the propulsion system. "The fact that the bulk of the blast heads toward the front rather than the back raises the chances that the propulsion system remains intact," said one expert at a South Korean state-run institute.

? Can Mini Subs Fire Mid-sized Torpedoes?

Some skeptics have also said that the 130-ton "Yono" class submarine fingered by the investigators is incapable of firing a mid-sized torpedo. The CHT-02D torpedo that was used to attack the Cheonan is a mid-sized torpedo measuring 533 mm in diameter.

But military experts disagree. Iran's "Ghadir" class subs, which are similar in size to the "Yono" subs carry two torpedo launchers capable of firing 533 mm projectiles. Intelligence officials believe these are actually North Korean "Yono" subs that the North exported to Iran.

In World War II, Japan used 47-ton submarines, which are much smaller than the "Yono" subs, to launch 450 mm torpedoes. Also, North Korea's "Yugo" class subs, which are smaller than the "Yonos," are capable of firing 406 mm torpedoes. "Maintaining balance is important when it comes to firing torpedoes from subs, and a small sub may lose balance when only one of its torpedoes is launched," said one torpedo expert. "But that problem can be solved quite easily."

englishnews@chosun.com / May 24, 2010 13:40 KST

(4) Full Blueprint of CHT-02D (torpedo that sank Cheonan) cf salvaged torpedo propeller
N. Korea: Full Blueprint of CHT-02D (torpedo that sank Cheonan)
JoongAng Ilbo ^ | 05/21/10

Posted on 05/20/2010 7:56:55 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2517957/posts

(5) Salvaged torpedo does not match CHT-02D design

The Sinking of the Cheonan: We Are Being Lied To

Posted on May 24, 2010 by willyloman

by Scott Creighton

http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/the-sinking-of-the-cheonan-we-are-being-lied-to/

There is no doubt about it, there is no longer any reason to hold back, I have looked at the "evidence" and have concluded that we are being lied to, again, by our "leaders" in the White House in order to fabricate a measure of moral justification for yet another "regime change" campaign or an all out war with North Korea.

There simply is no "perfect match" like the recent unsigned report claims there is.

The White House said Monday that President Barack Obama "fully supports" the South Korean president and his response to the torpedo attack by North Korea that sank a South Korean naval ship. MSNBC

South Korea's president said Monday his nation will no longer tolerate North Korea's "brutality" and said the regime would pay for a surprise torpedo attack that killed 46 South Korean sailors. ABC News

North Korea has denied responsibility for the sinking of the South Korean warship, the Cheonan, on March 26, which left 46 sailors dead. A growing body of evidence assembled by the South has suggested a North Korean torpedo sank the ship. New York Times

The Growing Body Of Evidence

Clinton told reporters the evidence announced Thursday that North Korea sank the Cheonan "is overwhelming and condemning."

… Daniel Pinkston, a North Korea expert with the International Crisis Group, a multinational not-for-profit organization, said Friday that evidence that North Korea caused the sinking is "pretty irrefutable." Stars and Stripes

The International Crisis Group was founded and is funded by the World Bank. Their stated mission is to "prevent" international conflict yet somehow or another they always seem to come up with suggestions involving invading other nations or imposing strict sanctions like the kind that killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children. Oh yeah, the nations they target usually have a state-owned central bank system… till we invade that is.

So lets take a look at all the "overwhelming" and "irrefutable" evidence. 1. Someone wrote "number 1." on one single piece of the salvaged torpedo… 2. they claim the torpedo remains are a "perfect match" of a North Korean type of weapon, a "CHT-02D" torpedo. This conclusion was reached via an international research team from US, the UK, Australia, and Sweden. Here is their May 20th, 2010 report. In the report, they make the following conclusion;

The torpedo parts recovered at the site of the explosion by a dredging ship on May 15th, which include the 5?5 bladed contra-rotating propellers, propulsion motor and a steering section, perfectly match the schematics of the CHT-02D torpedo included in introductory brochures provided to foreign countries by North Korea for export purposes. The markings in Hangul, which reads "1?(or No. 1 in English)", found inside the end of the propulsion section, is consistent with the marking of a previously obtained North Korean torpedo.

… Based on all such relevant facts and classified analysis, we have reached the clear conclusion that ROKS "Cheonan" was sunk as the result of an external underwater explosion caused by a torpedo made in North Korea. The evidence points overwhelmingly to the conclusion that the torpedo was fired by a North Korean submarine. There is no other plausible explanation. Investigation on the Sinking of the Cheonan

That's it. That's all their "evidence" that the international investigators presented in their UNSIGNED report. That's right, no one knows who the "investigators" were since they didn't take the time to sign their work.

A Perfect Match?

This is the presentation refered to in the paper linked above. They mention that during a presentation of their findings, they showed the schematics of a CHT-02D torpedo in relation to the evidence they found. They claimed in their investigation that these are a "perfect match" and that claim is being repeated endlessly on both sides of the fake political divide. (please click on image for a larger view)

This is by no means a "perfect match". No wonder they didn't want to sign that "investigation" of theirs. (please click on image for a larger view)

There are 4 clear differences in the design of these weapons and one is without a doubt, the key to proving these are not the same.

* "A" & "D" – Here you can clearly see major differences in the design of the hub of the propellers. In the diagram above you can see it has a smaller hub whereas in the evidence below it, the hub is larger.

* "B" – The actual shape of the propellers is very different. You can see a notch in the diagram above that doesn't exist in the actual evidence propeller below. The overall shape of the blades are vastly different as well, both the front and the rear propeller sets.

All of this might be explained away by suggesting that these propellers were switched out. Thought it might be possible, remember that these are finely tuned and designed systems; one just can't switch these hub designs "willy nilly" like one would on their John-Boat. But, that aside, though it may be possible to have put different kinds of propellers on this fish, it is certainly NOT a "perfect match".

Now, the last point proves they are not the same torpedo.

* "C" - As you can plainly see, the stabilizers (or propulsion system?) in the diagram above are clearly shown IN FRONT of the separation plate as it is lined up in the display with the evidence below. However, the torpedo below houses that same stabilizer (or propulsion system) BEHIND the separation plate (separating the body and the tail section of the torpedo).

This is a major difference that cannot be explained by saying it was some kind of after market modification. This is part of a key design of the workings of these weapons and can not have been changed. This difference clearly indicates these are different weapons altogether.

(there are other differences that have been pointed out to this researcher; "Jan" noticed that the axle shape is tapered on the evidence and straight on the diagram. A good point. There are probably others as well (I noticed a difference in the shape of the "fin" in the guidance section in the back as well…. clearly there is no way to say these are a "perfect match")

It is no wonder the "investigators" chose not to sign their work.

The Forgotten Investigation

On May 6th, 2010 a report came out conducted by South Korea and others that said the torpedo's metal and explosive residue indicated that it had come from a German origin.

The team of South Korean and foreign investigators found traces of explosives used in torpedoes on several parts of the sunken ship as well as pieces of composite metal used in such weapons, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said quoting a senior government official.

… The metallic debris and chemical residue appear to be consistent with a type of torpedo made in Germany, indicating the North may have been trying to disguise its involvement by avoiding arms made by allies China and Russia, Yonhap quoted the official as saying. REUTERS News Agency

This report has been all but forgotten by the media and the Clinton led state department as they press for crippling sanctions and perhaps more. But there is a confirmation of sorts in the May 20th unsigned "investigation".

The first thing they should do, rather than attempt to convince the people that the two are "perfectly matched" in design (when they clearly aren't) is a chemical and metallic debris analysis of the evidence. The May 20th "investigation" does not make mention of this crucial part of the investigation at all… they don't mention it at all.

The reason for that is clear; if they were to address these two key scientific points, they would have to have admitted that the science shows these pieces of evidence are of German construction and therefore not of North Korean origin.

By ignoring these two important parts of the investigation, the May 20th paper confirms the earlier work of the May 6th study… the torpedo is of German origin.

The "CHT-02D" Torpedo

An earlier report stated that there were only 4 different types of North Korean torpedos that could have caused this damage.

Type EO-6 and ET-80A "Some experts downplayed the possibility of homing torpedoes, citing the low capability of North Korea's Sang-O (Shark) class submarines."

Russian Type 53-56

Russian Type 53-59

There had been no mention of the CHT-02D torpedo, and in fact, this researcher can't find any information on this torpedo aside from links to this story. There is various info on all the other types of North Korean torpedos, but there seems to be none on this one. Why is that? According to the official unsigned report this torpedo is "listed in a brochure" as something North Korea sells, but they do not offer the brochure nor a link to where it can be found. I am still looking for other sources on this matter.

But it appears this weapon came out of no-where.

In a paper I wrote yesterday I questioned whether or not the German-made DM2-A3 looked more like what was found.

"The DM2 A-3 version is also used by the Norwegian Ula class (German Type 210 subs) with an option for a later upgrade). The Italian Type 212 B submarines use the DM2 A-4 version. The Israeli Dolphin-class (German Type S-300) are also being equipped with the DM2 A-4 Torpedo."

It is only a possibility but it is of German design. More investigation into the schematics of this weapon are needed before any conclusion can be reached.

Questions Being Asked

Most MSM and "progressive" parrot websites are running with the "evil North Korea" story without any investigations what-so-ever. But questions are being asked on a few sites.

Democratic Underground has compiled a list of issues surrounding the "official story" and they deserve to be reviewed. They bring up some very good points and I would hope that someone who posts there might provide them with a link to this study of mine. "What if North Korea didn't fire the torpedo?" Democratic Underground

They bring out many points that I have not addressed here that need to be. One such point is that North Korea vehemently denies the allegations and they have asked to see the evidence inspect it themselves and they have been denied access to it.

Conclusion

It is clear that we are being lied to and manipulated into believing that North Korea is behind the sinking of the South Korean vessel, the Cheonan. It is impossible to draw conclusions at this time as to who is responsible but we can conclude based on the evidence, that the official story is yet another lie being pawned off on the American people. This lie is obvious and could be used to instigate military action against the people of North Korea.

(6) "North Korean general rewarded for sinking Cheonan"

{this article gives no evidence that General Kim Myong Guk was promoted because of the Cheonan}

From: Maurizio d'Orlando <hernett@iol.it> Date: 24.05.2010 05:20 AM

04/27/2010 11:25

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/North-Korean-general-rewarded-for-sinking-Cheonan-18245.html

Seoul opens an investigation into the promotion to four-star general of Kim Myong Guk. He was demoted after the skirmish at sea last November that caused the destruction of a ship from the North. The sinking of the South Korean ship would have determined his return to favour.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The order to scuttle the Cheonan – the South Korean corvette that sank last March 26 in waters of the Yellow Sea, causing 46 victims – was given by a former North Korean general, who has regained his position after the surprise move. This is the new line of investigation opened by the authorities in Seoul, after the images displayed by the North Korean state television, showing the senior officer Kim Myong-Guk wear a uniform with four stars on the collar.

Last January, the senior officer Kim (pictured), who heads the Army operations centre of Pyongyang, was downgraded to three star general. An intelligence official in Seoul confirmed the investigations started "on the grounds of the promotion", which could be linked to" the sinking of Cheonan, but there are currently no formal conclusions.

According voices inside the regime, the loss of the pip is linked to the confrontation between vessels of the two armies along the inter-Korean maritime border, which occurred last November. Gunfire caused the destruction of a coastguard vessel of the North Korean navy.

Intelligence experts in Seoul suggest that the sinking of Cheonan - a 1200 ton battleship - was caused by a North Korean submarine, or a torpedo manned by a kamikaze. To date, no official accusations have been made against the north, but investigations seem to lead towards Pyongyang, as instigators and perpetrators of the attack.

Last weekend the General Kim Myong-Guk - flaunting his four stars - appeared on television with the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il, near a military base camouflaged by the vegetation.

(7) General Kim Myong-guk regained his fourth star after Cheonan sinking - Wash. Times

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/06/inside-the-ring-30328486/

Korea tensions

By Bill Gertz INSIDE THE RING

Thursday, May 6, 2010

U.S. and Western officials say there are growing worries about a new conflict breaking out in Korea, based on evidence that a North Korean mini-submarine fired the torpedo that sank the South Korean coastal patrol ship Cheonan, killing 46 crew members.

South Korea's government is under pressure to respond to the attack and is reviewing its options, including a possible military response to the March 26 sinking, Western sources said.

Seoul is expected in the next two weeks to reveal the results of an international probe that includes U.S. Navy investigators.

Preliminary intelligence assessments show that the planning for the operation to sink the Cheonan began late last year and included North Korean navy exercises with special operations forces that ultimately were used in the attack.

An intelligence source said the attack also appears linked to leadership succession in North Korea.

Additionally, senior North Korean military officials, including the chief of the general staff in Pyongyang, were involved. There is also indication of involvement by a three-star general, Kim Myong-guk, who had been demoted from four-star rank after a November 2009 North-South naval clash. The general recently appeared in a photograph in the North Korean state-run press as having regained his fourth star after the sinking. ...

(8) Japan backs down over transfer of US marine base in Okinawa

From: lenczner <atoyuma@yahoo.com> Date: 25.05.2010 01:08 PM

Japan in U-turn on US marine base in Okinawa

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/24/japan-uturn-us-base-okinawa

Japan's prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, said today that rising tensions in the Korean peninsula were behind his decision to keep a controversial US marine base on Okinawa, reneging on an election pledge to move it off the island.

Hatoyama said he would honour a 2006 agreement with the US to move Futenma base from its current location in an overcrowded city to an offshore site in a less populated part of Okinawa, despite strong local opposition.

After six months of searching for a new site in other parts of Japan, Hatoyama conceded that the Korean crisis, sparked by the March sinking of a South Korean naval vessel blamed on a North Korean torpedo, had underlined the importance of the US military presence.

"I decided that it is of utmost importance that we place the Japan-US relationship on a solid footing of mutual trust, considering the situation on the Korean peninsula and in Asia," he said.

"I apologise from the bottom of my heart for the confusion I have caused the people of Okinawa."

The US had refused to budge from its insistence that the base, home to 2,000 marines, should stay on Okinawa, which it regards as the best location for troops who could be sent to intervene in a conflict on the Korean peninsula or between China and Taiwan.

Under the agreement, 8,000 US troops on Okinawa will be moved to the US Pacific territory of Guam by 2014.

The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, commended Hatoyama and described his change of heart as difficult but correct.

In an attempt to calm the anger among Okinawan residents, Hatoyama said attempts would be made to lessen the environmental impact of the offshore base. But local leaders described his volte-face as a betrayal. The mayor of Nago, the coastal town that will host the new base, described the plan as "absolutely unacceptable".

"I cannot help feeling angry as this is a betrayal of the people of Nago and Okinawa," Susumu Inamine told Hatoyama in a meeting yesterday.

Despite the agreement between Tokyo and Washington, some analysts believe the plan could still fail amid growing opposition on the island, which hosts about half of the 50,000 US troops in Japan.

Minoru Morita, a veteran political commentator, said Hatoyama's mishandling of the relocation had exposed his Democratic party as naive.

"The Okinawan people are outraged," he said. "They feel Hatoyama betrayed them. The Democrats didn't think through what they could change and what they couldn't change. The base issue is an international agreement. They are ignorant and irrational."

Hatoyama could pay a heavy political price for his perceived lack of leadership. The Social Democrats, a minor left-wing party, have threatened to leave his coalition government, while voters are expected to punish him in upper house elections in July.