Empire Mica - British War Grave

[SHAMU-06]

The Empire Mica was an Empire class tanker torpedoed in the Gulf of Mexico close to shore off Cape San Blas and Cape St George on 29 JUN 1942. She is a war grave. Captain Anderson’s Restaurant in Panama City, Florida now has her propeller displayed in front of their restaurant. Thirty three merchantmen and Royal Navy Gunners died aboard her. Most of these men burned to death. I guess little is sacred any more?

https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1872.html

https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship1872.html

http://jimpinson.jc-research.com/diving/slides/empire-mica-plack.html

https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20170629/u-boats-in-gulf-sinking-of-hms-empire-mica

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x889386386d71ce97%3A0x6a4301935c6e7cec!3 m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com %2Fp%2FAF1QipMoiOZAuGi1CWJHcy5InqjBzK0Ns4rOL4tBocx M%3Dw160-h160-k-no!5scaptain%20andersons%20panama%20city%20beach%2 0-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipOspU31o7jkwl0sJbOQ7UFZqP755 ldBfg79Uye3&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjR_6b6xcnvAhX-RDABHYyJAPgQoiowGXoECEAQAw

[iambecomelife]

Yes, that is disappointing but not surprising. Recently more and more wrecks - including war graves - are being stripped for souvenirs, or simply to salvage reusable metals. The people who do it are likely disturbing human remains but I doubt they care. Profit seems to be the only things that matters.

I was pretty disgusted to find out that the UK government actually SOLD the salvage rights to Aboukir/Cressy/Hogue in 1956 - even though 1400 men died on those ships, with many probably trapped inside. I suspect the US gov't and other powers are not much better.

As a rule of thumb, I believe not just war graves but all shipwrecks likely to contain the remains of people who died approximately within living memory should not be salvaged, except under extraordinary circumstances (for instance, to clear a busy harbor etc.) That, in my opinion, would be a fair way to stop desecration but still permit historical research where there are no recently-bereaved families &c.

On another note it's interesting to see something about "Empire Mica" - I want to model her and similar tankers for Silent Hunter 4/5 as AI units.

[iambecomelife]

By the way if anyone has additional photos of the following "Empire" tankers please share!

-Empire Mica

-Empire Lytton

-Empire Gold