Who killed Prien?

[Tchocky]

Cigarettes!

[MaddogK]

Probably an errant torpedo, they seemed to follow Prien (pun intended),

Unfortunately defective torpedoes weren't invented before Royal Oak.

http://s1.postimage.org/231wpky74v/image273_18.jpg

[CCIP]

It's not very likely they'll ever find her. The sub sank in a very deep part of the ocean, and considering the manner in which subs usually go down (i.e. implode from the pressure) it's probably in a pretty poor shape. Not very many wrecks this small tend to be located that deep, and even with radar searches it's unlikely to be easily identifiable as a U-boat, let alone a specific boat. I think there's almost no chance the boat will ever be found, and even if it's found, it's improbable that will yield any clues as to how it sank.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by CCIP

It's not very likely they'll ever find her. The sub sank in a very deep part of the ocean, and considering the manner in which subs usually go down (i.e. implode from the pressure) it's probably in a pretty poor shape. Not very many wrecks this small tend to be located that deep, and even with radar searches it's unlikely to be easily identifiable as a U-boat, let alone a specific boat. I think there's almost no chance the boat will ever be found, and even if it's found, it's improbable that will yield any clues as to how it sank.

Not that it hasn't been done its just there is no pressing demand to find out what happened.

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Not that it hasn't been done its just there is no pressing demand to find out what happened.

Oh indeed. Though I think the search for U-47, especially with the number of other very similar wrecks littering that area, would be even more difficult and costly, and who'd pay?

I'm also skeptical that she's not just a debris field now. At least that's my impression of what most U-boats sunk in violent action in deep ocean look like - i.e. torn up and in pieces.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by CCIP

It's not very likely they'll ever find her. The sub sank in a very deep part of the ocean, and considering the manner in which subs usually go down (i.e. implode from the pressure) it's probably in a pretty poor shape. Not very many wrecks this small tend to be located that deep, and even with radar searches it's unlikely to be easily identifiable as a U-boat, let alone a specific boat. I think there's almost no chance the boat will ever be found, and even if it's found, it's improbable that will yield any clues as to how it sank.

^ + 1

[Bilge_Rat]

I dont necessarily agree, as technology has evolved, many wrecks which were thought to be unfindable have been found.

Bismarck at 17,000 feet:




Titanic at 12,000 feet:







USS Thresher at 8,400 feet:




http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/s...t/ssn593-l.htm


USS Scorpion at 10,000 feet:




http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/s...s/ssn589-k.htm


As to what the wreck will look like will really depend on what caused the sinking. The USS Thresher imploded and debris was littered all over the sea floor. However, both the K-129 and the USS Scorpion flooded and parts of their hull were found on the seafloor.

[MaddogK]

Also note that if the hull was ruptured by a shallow water explosion chances are slim that there would be a crushed hull sitting at the bottom of the ocean.

NO air.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by MaddogK

Also note that if the hull was ruptured by a shallow water explosion chances are slim that there would be a crushed hull sitting at the bottom of the ocean.

NO air.

Although if her batteries exploded as she/after she sank there might not be much left.