Was the USS Maddox attacked?
Was the USS Maddox attacked?
On 2 August 1964, North Vietnamese patrol torpedo boats attacked the USS Maddox (DD-731) while the destroyer was in international waters in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Are torpedo boats still used?
Boats similar to torpedo boats are still in use, but are armed with long-range anti-ship missiles that can be used at ranges between 30 and 70 km.
Are there any ww2 PT boats left?
Today, just four combat-veteran PT boats still exist in the United States; of those, only PT-305 is fully restored and operational, complete with original-model engines. An operational PT-305 promises to become one of The National WWII Museum’s most exciting artifacts and teaching tools.
How big was a PT boat in World War II?
80-foot long
Two basic and distinctly different types of PT Boats were built for combat with the predominant PT, the 80-foot long “Elco” boat, and the slightly smaller 78-foot long “Higgins” boat.
What really happened in the Gulf of Tonkin?
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident occurred in August 1964. North Vietnamese warships purportedly attacked United States warships, the U.S.S. Maddox and the U.S.S. C. Turner Joy, on two separate occasions in the Gulf of Tonkin, a body of water neighboring modern-day Vietnam.
What happened to General Westmoreland?
Westmoreland died on July 18, 2005, at the age of 91 at the Bishop Gadsden retirement home in Charleston, South Carolina. He had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease during the final years of his life. He was buried on July 23, 2005, at the West Point Cemetery, United States Military Academy.
Who has the best torpedoes in World War II?
Nicknamed the “Long Lance” by naval historian Samuel Eliot Morrison, the Japanese Type 93 was the best torpedo of World War II.
Do you see torpedo boats?
The ship is also known in popular media for its habit of transmitting the query “Do you see torpedo boats?” in situations where enemy torpedo boats could not possibly have been present, nevertheless causing panic aboard other ships of her squadron.
Did the US provoke the Gulf of Tonkin incident?
Subsequent reports show that the United States actually provoked these attacks by supporting South Vietnamese commandos operating in North Vietnam and by using U.S. warships to identify North Vietnamese radar stations along the coastline of North Vietnam.
Who fired first in Gulf of Tonkin?
As it cruised along on August 2, it found itself facing down three Soviet-built, North Vietnamese torpedo boats that had come out to chase it away. The Maddox fired first, issuing what the U.S. authorities described as warning shots.
Is General Westmoreland still living?
July 18, 2005William Westmoreland / Date of death
How many generals did USA lose in Vietnam?
Nearly a dozen general officers and one admiral were killed while supporting military operations in Vietnam. They include Maj. Gen. George William Casey Sr., whose helicopter went missing over Vietnam on July 7, 1970.
What happens to torpedoes that miss?
For torpedoes that lacked this feature, most would simply run out of fuel/charge and sink under their own weight. As we previously mentioned, while torpedoes are close to neutral buoyancy, they are ever so slightly less so, meaning they will inexorably sink if they stop moving.
What was wrong with us torpedoes in ww2?
The mechanical ones were faulty thanks to heavy firing pins that couldn’t achieve the right momentum when the torpedo was at full speed, so they were replaced with a lighter metal alloy. Ironically, the alloy chosen had made it into U.S. arsenals after it was discovered in a Japanese fighter shot down at Pearl Harbor.
Is PT 109 true story?
PT-109 sank in the Solomon Islands when a Japanese destroyer sliced through it, setting into motion the survival odyssey that became a cornerstone of the Kennedy legend. Nearly 60 years ago a Japanese destroyer materialized out of a moonless night and smashed through PT-109, sending 26-year-old skipper John F.
How many torpedoes does a destroyer carry?
Obi-Wan Finale – The Loop
| Fletcher-class destroyer | |
|---|---|
| Armament: | • 5 × single 5 inch/38 caliber guns • 6–10 × 40 mm Bofors AA guns (early ships carried 4 × 1.1 inch/75 caliber guns) • 7–10 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannons, • 10 ×21 inch torpedo tubes (2×5; Mark 15 torpedos) • 6 × K-guns • 2 × depth charge racks |
Why did the Maddox almost shoot down a North Vietnamese torpedo?
Instead, it’s believed that the crewmembers of the Maddox mistook their own sonar’s pings off the rudder for North Vietnamese torpedoes. In the confusion, the Maddox nearly even fired at the Turner Joy.
What was the North Vietnamese response to the Gulf of Tonkin?
In response, the North Vietnamese built up their naval presence around the offshore islands. On 3 August, the CIA confirmed that “Hanoi’s naval units have displayed increasing sensitivity to U.S. and South Vietnamese naval activity in the Gulf of Tonkin during the past several months.” 4
What firewall existed between covert patrol-boat attacks on North Vietnamese positions?
A firewall existed between covert patrol-boat attacks on North Vietnamese positions and Desoto patrols eavesdropping on shore-based communications. The North Vietnamese didn’t buy the distinction; they attacked the USS Maddox.