U-534 Sliced open with giant cheese wire!

[waldopbarnstormer]

Here is a link I found to an article in my local newspaper. It regards U-534 which has been bought by Mersey ferries and is now on display to the public.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/capital-of-culture/2008/03/17/final-piece-of-wirral-s-nazi-u-boat-jigsaw-is-put-in-place-64375-20633118/

I thought people would find this interesting, and it would be a great chance to take a look inside a real WW2 sub.

[M. Sarsfield]

I'm more interesting in all of the artifacts that they recovered from inside.

[jdkbph]

I dunno.... just seems like such a damned shame to cut up. I wonder if 100 or more years from now people will be looking at this piece of history beyond living memory and wondering what the hell we were thinking.

JD

[M. Sarsfield]

In the video on the website they said that they couldn't afford the cost of moving it in one piece. It wasn't sea worthy.

[Quillan]

I've seen pictures of it when it was at Birkenhead. It wasn't really restored; the outer hull was still rusted and holed. I imagine moving it in one piece would have been extremely difficult.

http://uboat.net/gallery/index.html?gallery=U534B

[M. Sarsfield]

They had to put the Batfish on several barges to move it up the Arkansas River to its current berth. The boat is still able to float, though. Back in 1973 I think it took about $500,000 to pull that off. I can imagine the price today.

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

What a shame. It's like that B-17 found in the Northern Range here on the island. It crashed and was never found during the war. Recently someone discovered the wreck and the its occupants including crew id which were conveyed to their families back in the states. They left the wreck there unable to move it. Besides tropical decay would've made it impossible anyway. I know there must be some u-boat wrecks off our coasts, just to find them.

[-Pv-]

At least one U-boat wreck was found in the last couple years off the US East coast. German records indicates it should have been thousands of miles away from where it was found.
-Pv-

[FIREWALL]

After crowds slow down and the novelity wears off and it cost more to keep the exibit up than their bringing in it will go to the highest bidder for scrap.

[Ducimus]

If it wasnt a rusted wreck dredged up off the sea floor id be more concerned over it. U-534 really is inconsequential when you consider another sub of its type is intact, in "cherry" condition, and is entombed in a concrete shelter where the elements can do no damage to it.

If i had more of a vested interest, id be more concerned about U-995 and why its still outside and exposed to the elements.

[FIREWALL]

If it wasnt a rusted wreck dredged up off the sea floor id be more concerned over it. U-534 really is inconsequential when you consider another sub of its type is intact, in "cherry" condition, and is entombed in a concrete shelter where the elements can do no damage to it.

If i had more of a vested interest, id be more concerned about U-995 and why its still outside and exposed to the elements.

I couldn't have said it better. :up:

[Graf Paper]

Speaking of U-505, am I right in the thought that the recently completed restoration makes this XIC boat more or less in mint condition and she's as new and seaworthy as the day she slipped out of drydock?

My sister visited U-505 before it was moved to the new bunker and took several photographs. I've told her to send me copies or face her fate.

I ain't decided what that is, yet, but it probably involves a pool, R/C u-boat, and her with a smokestack strapped to her back.

Does anyone know where I can get 1/144 scale live torpedo warheads? :arrgh!:

[Ducimus]

>>she's as new and seaworthy as the day she slipped out of drydock?


No. Only shes in very good condition. Seaworthy? Hell no.

At any rate, like i said, if i was a diehard uboat fan, id be more concerned about U-995.

The 7th and 8th picture from the bottom at this URL:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08228.htm

Is what happends when you leave your WW2 submarines laying around outside with poor maintenance and upkeep.

[seaniam81]

>>she's as new and seaworthy as the day she slipped out of drydock?


No. Only shes in very good condition. Seaworthy? Hell no.

At any rate, like i said, if i was a diehard uboat fan, id be more concerned about U-995.

The 7th and 8th picture from the bottom at this URL:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08228.htm

Is what happends when you leave your WW2 submarines laying around outside with poor maintenance and upkeep.

Thats a sad sight to see.

[gumbeau]

What is sad is the major reason they cut it up is a disability discrimination law would have prevented anyone from viewing the inside of the U-Boat because it could not be brought into compliance with the law. So all are denied because a few cannot be accomodated.

Sad and Silly

[basilio]

I've seen pictures of it when it was at Birkenhead. It wasn't really restored; the outer hull was still rusted and holed. I imagine moving it in one piece would have been extremely difficult.

http://uboat.net/gallery/index.html?gallery=U534B
I was looking at the pictures from the above link and......
...I saw this one......
http://uboat.net/gallery/index.html?gallery=U534B&img=2
I was always laughing while looking at the sailors with this strange t-shirt from the SH4 U-boat mission addon....now I realize they are "historically correct" :lol: :lol: :lol:

[M. Sarsfield]

The 7th and 8th picture from the bottom at this URL:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08228.htm

Is what happends when you leave your WW2 submarines laying around outside with poor maintenance and upkeep.


Drum is finally getting a face lift. They recently installed high voltage receptacles near the boat to start welding repairs at the stern. Drum is the 2008 "Restoration Project" of the year for the Lockwood Internet Base of the USSVI. Next year they will pick a different museum boat that needs financial help and raise money for it.

[kikn79]

Speaking of U-505, am I right in the thought that the recently completed restoration makes this XIC boat more or less in mint condition and she's as new and seaworthy as the day she slipped out of drydock?


She's in good condition, but not seaworthy. They cut 2 huge holes in the side of the hull (just aft of the forward torpedo room and just forward of the aft torpedo room) for tours. I went there last summer and took a tour. It was interesting with lots of sounds and lights for the tourists. No pictures were allowed inside and the tour guide just follows a script. You really can't ask any questions. (at least thats what they said when I was there.) I liked the USS Cobia tour better.

Here's a pic I took, though.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/kikn79/tnDSCF5418.jpg

Chuck

[Ducimus]

Der See Kow ....turned Cash Cow :rotfl:

[M. Sarsfield]

I like visiting the boats that let you feel at home. If I want Disney World, I'll go there. Still, I need to see the 505 at least once.

[modisch]

At least one U-boat wreck was found in the last couple years off the US East coast. German records indicates it should have been thousands of miles away from where it was found.
-Pv-

there are quite a few uboat wrecks along the east coast. Three are listed on this diving site (http://www.nc-wreckdiving.com/shipwrecks.html) for North Carolina.

Kinda hard to 'tour' a wreck on the seafloor. But it's probably makes for good diving for the folks that do that. I've never done more than snorkeling, though... so no uboat wrecks for me.

-m

[SimHq Tom Cofield]

If it wasn't for the Museum of Science and industry the 505 probably would have ended up as a target on the ocean floor. I don't think they have ever made a 'profit' off of the boat. If I remember right she has been called a great big white elephant for the museum.

I've paid several times to see her, although I haven't been there since the concrete cover was put into place. I just thank goodness that she is still around.

[CaptHawkeye]

The 7th and 8th picture from the bottom at this URL:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08228.htm

Is what happends when you leave your WW2 submarines laying around outside with poor maintenance and upkeep.


Drum is finally getting a face lift. They recently installed high voltage receptacles near the boat to start welding repairs at the stern. Drum is the 2008 "Restoration Project" of the year for the Lockwood Internet Base of the USSVI. Next year they will pick a different museum boat that needs financial help and raise money for it.

At least some of the museum dudes got up off of their asses for USS Texas when it turned out it was about to sink at its morings just because of rust. Too bad they always ass themselves to get into it well after the ship has turned a less than lovely shade of metallic brown and gray.