Graydon wrote:
Still, upon further reflection, the idea that they have to swim upstream from below the Temple forces' limit of observation, find the sunken barges, figure out a demolition plan by touch and hand signals they can't see in the dark, plant the charges they've been lugging with them, also by touch in the dark, and float home downstream seems implausibly strenuous even by demolition diver standards.
So now I'm wondering if the stick headed upstream was a snorkel for a tiny compressed-air powered submarine, thinking, no, that's crazy, they're just not there yet, maybe it's just a guy with a snorkel scouting to find the barges? But if you can't stick your head up, you can't get landmarks, so the utility of your report is going to be rather diminished. And if you can't see because it's dark, it's going to be an even worse report.
All that makes me wonder if this is the lead guy for a bunch of assault swimmers, there to take out the sentries to allow guys in boats an unopposed landing, but that gets into the distance and gear-towing issues again.
This is a river there is no navigation needed, you want to blow the barges so you can pass the ironclad. Swim along the bottom to get to the barges, if you have rope use it and some anchor spikes or points. Find the first barge by feel and start laying in explosives by feel. i.e. barges are 100 ft long so 4 arm spans should be about 25 feet plant some explosives repeat twice more, next barge. Water does not compress and accuracy is not required, just make kindling of the barges.