What torpedoed ships look like?

Answer 1

The best answer is "that depends". Many times, a ship is small, and a torpedo will completely destroy it, or cause a boiler explosion to destroy it. But assuming that it is around 7100 tons, (like a liberty ship) A single torpedo would punch a hole of about 40 ft. by 20 ft. at an area just below the waterline. Depending on what the cargo is, and where it hits, as to whether it is enough to sink the vessel. Some Liberty ships had a nasty habit of cracking in two if hit just forward of the deck house. A hit at the bulkhead between holds would likely cause both holds to fill with water. There being just 5 holds on a Liberty ship, such a hit could prove a fatal blow. A torpedoed ship on the bottom, may come to rest upright, or lying on her side, or in an extreme case lying upside down. Heavy machinery may have torn loose from its bedding and cargo may have shifted. After many years on the bottom of the sea, rusting plates may have collapsed in on the wreck.