A question of oil slicks

Capt Noah and Crew · 01-04-06, 07:22 AM

2/3 years ago I personally witnessed the environmental damage caused to the coasts by the sinking of the large oil tanker "Prestige". Those of you that saw some of the news footage may recall that it was months before she was "secured" on the sea bed.

In effect the sinking of this sole boat caused Spain's worse ever environmental disater. Of course we now live in different times from the game's period.

So with that in mind my question is: What was the envirnomnental consequences caused by the sinking of oil tankers at the height of the Uboats campaign.

Clearly I am unsure if there is a definitve answer, but thought it worthy of a post as often some of the side issues of warfare are not as well known and there could be some well read players with some of the answer.

Regards: Capt. Noah.

Kaptan Tommy · 01-04-06, 11:50 AM

Who cares? When you're at war, you're more concerned with killing the enemy than with the fate of the little fishies or the beaches.

The sinking of an oil tanker in peaceful times is a different story.

Crop-Duster · 01-04-06, 02:45 PM

It would take many many WW2 era tankers to carry the equivilent of what ONE super tanker carries today.

You have to put things into prespective.

And don't forget that when tankers were sunk during WW2 most of the oil was burnt off.

DAB · 01-04-06, 03:19 PM

Much of the damage occured well out to sea, the oil slicks were there but were usually broken up before they reached land. It wasn't uncommon though for convoys and warships to encounter large slicks though.

A lot of wreckage, bodies and I would imagine, Oil was washed up on the Western Irish coast. Its a fair bet some of the Irish history websites will have details on that.

August · 01-04-06, 03:29 PM

Lots of oil washed up on the US east coast as well but you have to consider the times. In those days people saw little wrong with dumping untreated industrial waste directly into rivers and oceans so an oil soaked beach ot three was not considered to be as big a deal it is today.

Etienne · 01-04-06, 08:00 PM

I'd say most of the oil spilled didn't burn, but as it has been said, the slick would have broken up before reaching the shore, in most case.

I've been told that while spills are harmful to coastal areas and faunae, a spill out at sea is not that damageable ; in fact, the clean up is more damageable to the environment than the actual spill.

Not sure if that's true, however.

Kaptan Tommy · 01-04-06, 09:17 PM

Remember that 'Valdez' spill? One beach where they spent zillions of dollars sanitizing was still sterile years later, with nothing growing, while another beach down the way that was not helped (ahem) is now almost back to the way it was before the spill. Mother nature will fix it if we just let her. Politicians, environmentalists, do-gooders, and all governments will always screw up anything they touch.

01-04-06, 07:22 AM	#1
Capt Noah and Crew Swabbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Exiled in Straits of Gibralter Posts: 9 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	A question of oil slicks 2/3 years ago I personally witnessed the environmental damage caused to the coasts by the sinking of the large oil tanker "Prestige". Those of you that saw some of the news footage may recall that it was months before she was "secured" on the sea bed. In effect the sinking of this sole boat caused Spain's worse ever environmental disater. Of course we now live in different times from the game's period. So with that in mind my question is: What was the envirnomnental consequences caused by the sinking of oil tankers at the height of the Uboats campaign. Clearly I am unsure if there is a definitve answer, but thought it worthy of a post as often some of the side issues of warfare are not as well known and there could be some well read players with some of the answer. Regards: Capt. Noah.

01-04-06, 11:50 AM	#2
Kaptan Tommy Planesman Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: USA Carson City, NV Posts: 182 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Who cares? When you're at war, you're more concerned with killing the enemy than with the fate of the little fishies or the beaches. The sinking of an oil tanker in peaceful times is a different story. __________________ Quit farting around reading the forums and sink some ships!

01-04-06, 02:45 PM	#3
Crop-Duster Medic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Up the line in Canada eh Posts: 162 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It would take many many WW2 era tankers to carry the equivilent of what ONE super tanker carries today. You have to put things into prespective. And don't forget that when tankers were sunk during WW2 most of the oil was burnt off. __________________ Sir! What was that noise? Ironically the Shorts Sunderland is code letter U of No. 461 Squadron, and the submarine is U-461.

01-04-06, 03:19 PM	#4
DAB Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 263 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Much of the damage occured well out to sea, the oil slicks were there but were usually broken up before they reached land. It wasn't uncommon though for convoys and warships to encounter large slicks though. A lot of wreckage, bodies and I would imagine, Oil was washed up on the Western Irish coast. Its a fair bet some of the Irish history websites will have details on that. __________________ ...snorting / snorkelling after several years of silent running.

01-04-06, 03:29 PM	#5
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Lots of oil washed up on the US east coast as well but you have to consider the times. In those days people saw little wrong with dumping untreated industrial waste directly into rivers and oceans so an oil soaked beach ot three was not considered to be as big a deal it is today. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

01-04-06, 08:00 PM	#6
Etienne Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 695 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I'd say most of the oil spilled didn't burn, but as it has been said, the slick would have broken up before reaching the shore, in most case. I've been told that while spills are harmful to coastal areas and faunae, a spill out at sea is not that damageable ; in fact, the clean up is more damageable to the environment than the actual spill. Not sure if that's true, however.

01-04-06, 09:17 PM	#7
Kaptan Tommy Planesman Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: USA Carson City, NV Posts: 182 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Remember that 'Valdez' spill? One beach where they spent zillions of dollars sanitizing was still sterile years later, with nothing growing, while another beach down the way that was not helped (ahem) is now almost back to the way it was before the spill. Mother nature will fix it if we just let her. Politicians, environmentalists, do-gooders, and all governments will always screw up anything they touch. __________________ Quit farting around reading the forums and sink some ships!