U-550 found

Gargamel · 07-27-12, 07:34 PM

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268743/con...tguid=XYtUnMmA

And unlike our other recent story about a sunken uboat, this one looks like a uboat on the side scan. And given the fact there was a recorded sinking in the area, it seems they found her.

Platapus · 07-27-12, 08:01 PM

Awesome, now that they found it, I hope they leave it alone. Please let the German sailors rest in peace.

They did not mention the depth but said it was far off shore. I hope it is far enough and deep enough to prevent people from diving that wreck.

August · 07-27-12, 08:08 PM

I think they'd say it was deep and far off shore even if it wasn't.

Gargamel · 07-27-12, 08:19 PM

http://www.uboat.net/boats/u550.htm

They put in a not so diver friendly area.

August · 07-27-12, 08:58 PM

According to the article they did some "quick dives" on it so it can't be that deep. Google maps puts those coordinates at - 316ft. That's diveable with the right equipment but certainly not something done quickly.

Gargamel · 07-27-12, 09:50 PM

I believe these coordinates are from the war reports. The search area may have fallen off the shelf. And a quick dive may have been with an rov.

With other more accessible subs to dive on, I don't see this becoming a dive spot.

CaptainHaplo · 07-28-12, 08:51 AM

There is little reason to disturb the wreck. The finders are intent now on contacting the families of those lost to advise them of the resting place of their loved ones.

August · 07-28-12, 11:00 AM

If it does lay within sport diving depths then maybe the Germans ought to send a detail to recover whatever crew remains still exists like the Japanese did at Truk lagoon. I'd imagine those sailors would prefer going home if they could be asked. I know that I would.

Seth8530 · 07-29-12, 10:24 AM

I know im about to sound very unceremonious here.. But, why do we care so much about dead people? Why shouldn't we be able to explore the u-boat? The dead people are dead? why should they care?

BossMark · 07-29-12, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth8530

I know im about to sound very unceremonious here.. But, why do we care so much about dead people? Why shouldn't we be able to explore the u-boat? The dead people are dead? why should they care?

Respect for the brave men who lost there lives, also it just doesn't seem right does it

Sailor Steve · 07-29-12, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth8530

I know im about to sound very unceremonious here.. But, why do we care so much about dead people? Why shouldn't we be able to explore the u-boat? The dead people are dead? why should they care?

So it's okay for me to dig up your dead grandparents to see if they have any gold on them?

Buddahaid · 07-29-12, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

So it's okay for me to dig up your dead grandparents to see if they have any gold on them?

Yes it's OK for you to dig up "his" Grandparents and look for gold.

It does bring up what the statute of limitations is about this. How old must a wreck be before it's OK to disturb the dead? I'm sure it's OK for the Spanish armada war graves now for most of us so where does one draw that line?

August · 07-29-12, 01:46 PM

The country that sent them there ought to mount an expedition to search the wreckage and locate, remove and return any human remains for proper burial in the home country.

Then it's not a war grave anymore. We do it for plane crash victims all the time, including war losses even decades after the fact. There's one going on up in Alaska right now for a larger crew than what was on the 550. They just finished bringing back a bunch of WW2 aircrew remains from Burma. I don't see why small ship crews should be treated any differently. You're talking about just 40 bodies not 40,000 like on some large land battlefield.

Otherwise in order to stop civilian divers from disturbing the wreck and remains you will have to secure it and guard it. That will be expensive and oppressive and imo we have enough of both in government lately.

Besides. I never met a sailor or soldier, myself included, who would prefer having his remains left where they fell. Everybody wants to go home. I think we owe it to them to make sure it happens.

Sailor Steve · 07-29-12, 01:52 PM

August makes a valid argument for this. It bears discussion.

u crank · 07-29-12, 02:12 PM

I agree with August.

I think it would also be appropriate to remove an artifact that could be made into a memorial that family members could visit to pay their respects as they are able.

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Besides. I never met a sailor or soldier, myself included, who would prefer having his remains left where they fell. Everybody wants to go home. I think we owe it to them to make sure it happens.

Well said.

07-27-12, 07:34 PM	#1
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	U-550 found http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268743/con...tguid=XYtUnMmA And unlike our other recent story about a sunken uboat, this one looks like a uboat on the side scan. And given the fact there was a recorded sinking in the area, it seems they found her. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

07-27-12, 08:01 PM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,366 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Awesome, now that they found it, I hope they leave it alone. Please let the German sailors rest in peace. They did not mention the depth but said it was far off shore. I hope it is far enough and deep enough to prevent people from diving that wreck. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

07-27-12, 08:08 PM	#3
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,198 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I think they'd say it was deep and far off shore even if it wasn't. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

07-27-12, 08:19 PM	#4
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	http://www.uboat.net/boats/u550.htm They put in a not so diver friendly area. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

07-27-12, 08:58 PM	#5
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,198 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	According to the article they did some "quick dives" on it so it can't be that deep. Google maps puts those coordinates at - 316ft. That's diveable with the right equipment but certainly not something done quickly. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

07-27-12, 09:50 PM	#6
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	I believe these coordinates are from the war reports. The search area may have fallen off the shelf. And a quick dive may have been with an rov. With other more accessible subs to dive on, I don't see this becoming a dive spot. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

07-28-12, 08:51 AM	#7
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	There is little reason to disturb the wreck. The finders are intent now on contacting the families of those lost to advise them of the resting place of their loved ones. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

07-28-12, 11:00 AM	#8
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,198 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If it does lay within sport diving depths then maybe the Germans ought to send a detail to recover whatever crew remains still exists like the Japanese did at Truk lagoon. I'd imagine those sailors would prefer going home if they could be asked. I know that I would. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see. Last edited by August; 07-28-12 at 11:49 AM.

07-29-12, 10:24 AM	#9
Seth8530 Captain Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 546 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	I know im about to sound very unceremonious here.. But, why do we care so much about dead people? Why shouldn't we be able to explore the u-boat? The dead people are dead? why should they care? __________________

07-29-12, 01:46 PM	#13
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,198 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The country that sent them there ought to mount an expedition to search the wreckage and locate, remove and return any human remains for proper burial in the home country. Then it's not a war grave anymore. We do it for plane crash victims all the time, including war losses even decades after the fact. There's one going on up in Alaska right now for a larger crew than what was on the 550. They just finished bringing back a bunch of WW2 aircrew remains from Burma. I don't see why small ship crews should be treated any differently. You're talking about just 40 bodies not 40,000 like on some large land battlefield. Otherwise in order to stop civilian divers from disturbing the wreck and remains you will have to secure it and guard it. That will be expensive and oppressive and imo we have enough of both in government lately. Besides. I never met a sailor or soldier, myself included, who would prefer having his remains left where they fell. Everybody wants to go home. I think we owe it to them to make sure it happens. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

07-29-12, 01:52 PM	#14
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	August makes a valid argument for this. It bears discussion. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo