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View Full Version : Heavy Cruiser Blucher final resting place

Jimbuna
12-27-12, 01:20 PM
On a recent visit home my son brought an old chart they use on his vessel whilst navigating to Oslo.

Here is a tiny portion of it but what I find of interest is the fact it shows the final resting place of the German Heavy Cruiser Blucher...sunk on 8th April 1940 during the invasion of Norway.


Assigned to Group 5 during the invasion of Norway in April 1940, Blücher served as Konteradmiral Oskar Kummetz's flagship. The ship led the flotilla of warships into the Oslofjord on the night of 8 April, to seize Oslo, the capital of Norway. Two old 28 cm (11 in) coastal guns in the Oscarsborg Fortress engaged the ship at very close range, scoring two hits. Two torpedoes fired by land-based torpedo batteries struck the ship, causing serious damage. A major fire broke out aboard Blücher, which could not be contained. After a magazine explosion, the ship slowly capsized and sank, with major loss of life. The wreck remains on the bottom of the Oslofjord.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cruiser_Bl%C3%BCcher

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/6043/001eje.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28/001eje.jpg/)
Gerald
12-27-12, 01:51 PM
Interestingly,very close, a navigation point on the chart, it looks like so :yep:
Jimbuna
12-27-12, 02:14 PM
Very close indeed and just like the Arizona her tears/oil can still be seen on the surface of the water.
Gerald
12-27-12, 02:20 PM
Still? It bears witness to history.
Jimbuna
12-27-12, 02:22 PM
Most certainly does that.
Cybermat47
12-27-12, 03:31 PM
Imagine just sailing past and seeing it through the water :o
CCIP
12-27-12, 04:03 PM
Here's some pictures of the site today: http://www.admiral-hipper-class.dk/bluecher/miscellaneous/oscarsborg_bluecher_wreck_site_today/oscarsborg_bluecher_wreck_site_today.html

And also here: http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/germany/pages/cruisers/blucher_erik_ettrup_collection_page_1.htm
Gerald
12-27-12, 04:19 PM
^Interesting images,:yep:
Jimbuna
12-27-12, 04:27 PM
Imagine just sailing past and seeing it through the water :o

No thanks...let em sleep in peace.
Jimbuna
12-27-12, 04:28 PM
Here's some pictures of the site today: http://www.admiral-hipper-class.dk/bluecher/miscellaneous/oscarsborg_bluecher_wreck_site_today/oscarsborg_bluecher_wreck_site_today.html

And also here: http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/germany/pages/cruisers/blucher_erik_ettrup_collection_page_1.htm

I've a few from my lad but nothing as clear as those.
Cybermat47
12-27-12, 04:31 PM
No thanks...let em sleep in peace.

No, not diving or anything as disrespectful as that, just sailing past and you see this German warship...:o
Jimbuna
12-27-12, 04:34 PM
No, not diving or anything as disrespectful as that, just sailing past and you see this German warship...:o

I could be wrong but I certainly hope she is a war grave like so many others before her.
CCIP
12-27-12, 05:21 PM
Not necessarily, but I hope she is. The Tirpitz and a number of other wrecks in Norway were broken up.

The Blucher is pretty deep though, so you would not see it just sailing past.
Jimbuna
12-27-12, 05:27 PM
Not necessarily, but I hope she is. The Tirpitz and a number of other wrecks in Norway were broken up.

The Blucher is pretty deep though, so you would not see it just sailing past.

Yes I think you are correct....just the odd oil patch on the waters surface.
Cybermat47
12-27-12, 07:32 PM
The Tirpitz and a number of other wrecks in Norway were broken up.

They made golf clubs out of the Tirpitz :nope:
Marinenachrichtendienst
12-27-12, 09:36 PM
I actually have original "bunker-oil" from Blücher. :D
(1000 tons of oil was removed from her in 1994).
Jimbuna
12-28-12, 06:27 AM
I actually have original "bunker-oil" from Blücher. :D
(1000 tons of oil was removed from her in 1994).

That's interesting....was the oil bottled in any numbers for souvenirs perhaps?
Marinenachrichtendienst
12-28-12, 07:55 AM
Hi Jimbuna, good to see you again. Haven't been around here for a long time now. Good to be back.

No, I bought two jars containing this "bunker oil" from Kreuzer Blücher. Obviously they came from a bigger can.

By incident I found them among my things this last summer and opened them up just to smell them......again. :D

...and yes, I admit the odor of real Kriegsmarine oil is just great, but strong though. :rotfl2:
Jimbuna
12-28-12, 08:21 AM
Nice one :cool: