U-534 at Birkenhead - Any news about the boat?

CCIP · 05-16-07, 02:14 PM

This seriously is horrible. Isn't there any way to sell it, even to private hands?

Frankly I'd prefer it belong to some private collector and be off access to the public than scrapped. Scrapped! This is such a major piece of history that losing it would be, IMHO, a total tragedy.

Chock · 05-16-07, 03:27 PM

One of the tricky aspects is that despite the fact that U-534 was at Birkenhead, I understand that it is actually Norwegian-owned, given that it was raised from the Skageraak by a salvage company and was effectively on loan, having been sailed to Merseyside on a barge.

The ownership issue was quoted to me on the tour I took of U-534, and was one of the reasons we were not allowed to photograph the interior. So things are not very simple where this boat is concerned.

It's absolutely unthinkable to me that scrapping would be considered, as U-534 is unique in that it was actually allowed to be raised, because it wasn't a designated war grave. It's certainly a remarkable experience to be able to see inside a U-Boat that has actually sunk and witness first-hand the damage that a depth charge did to the thing. And the fact that much of the original equipemnt is still in situ, even after all these years inside the boat, makes it one of the most valuable historic artifacts in the world for me.

DanCanovas · 05-17-07, 03:46 AM

if there were no plans to do the boat and those that died on it justice, then they should have left them both in peace. its a disgrace and I hope its resolved.

Chock · 05-17-07, 05:28 AM

As far as I recall, nobody actually died on the boat, which is why it wasn't designated a War Grave (allowing it to be raised). If I recall correctly, some of the crew died after having abandoned the boat, well after it had sunk however.

DanCanovas · 05-17-07, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chock

As far as I recall, nobody actually died on the boat, which is why it wasn't designated a War Grave (allowing it to be raised). If I recall correctly, some of the crew died after having abandoned the boat, well after it had sunk however.

ah interesting. i'll look into it. thanks

05-16-07, 02:14 PM	#1
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	This seriously is horrible. Isn't there any way to sell it, even to private hands? Frankly I'd prefer it belong to some private collector and be off access to the public than scrapped. Scrapped! This is such a major piece of history that losing it would be, IMHO, a total tragedy. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

05-17-07, 03:46 AM	#3
DanCanovas Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 778 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	if there were no plans to do the boat and those that died on it justice, then they should have left them both in peace. its a disgrace and I hope its resolved. __________________

05-16-07, 03:27 PM	#2
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	One of the tricky aspects is that despite the fact that U-534 was at Birkenhead, I understand that it is actually Norwegian-owned, given that it was raised from the Skageraak by a salvage company and was effectively on loan, having been sailed to Merseyside on a barge. The ownership issue was quoted to me on the tour I took of U-534, and was one of the reasons we were not allowed to photograph the interior. So things are not very simple where this boat is concerned. It's absolutely unthinkable to me that scrapping would be considered, as U-534 is unique in that it was actually allowed to be raised, because it wasn't a designated war grave. It's certainly a remarkable experience to be able to see inside a U-Boat that has actually sunk and witness first-hand the damage that a depth charge did to the thing. And the fact that much of the original equipemnt is still in situ, even after all these years inside the boat, makes it one of the most valuable historic artifacts in the world for me.

05-17-07, 05:28 AM	#4
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	As far as I recall, nobody actually died on the boat, which is why it wasn't designated a War Grave (allowing it to be raised). If I recall correctly, some of the crew died after having abandoned the boat, well after it had sunk however.