Intersesting U-Boat Fact

[doomlordis]

thanks very interesting!

[captainprid]

Great report that, thanks for sharing

[kylania]

Here's a press release about the planned salvage operation of U-864. It includes a pretty neat animation about how they expect to do it:

http://www.mammoet.com/Default.aspx?...language=nl-NL

[msxyz]

Interesting video. The giant claw reminds me of the one employed in the Glomar Explorer slavage attempt of K-129. Due to the depth of the russian submersible the claw wasn't attached with cable but with steel tubes like those employed in deep drilling operations.

One thing is not clear, though. Since the submarine was torpedoed and broke into two, chances are that whatever there was inside it is now scattered on the sea floor. Why disturb a war grave when you can probably salvage the mercury containers alone?

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by msxyz

Why disturb a war grave ...

my feelings also.

[mookiemookie]

I believe the mercury containers were stored in the bilges as ballast. I know they had an idea a few years back to seal the entire wreck with concrete, but scrapped the idea.

[msxyz]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

I believe the mercury containers were stored in the bilges as ballast. I know they had an idea a few years back to seal the entire wreck with concrete, but scrapped the idea.

Good point. I remember now that when U-534 was salvaged, people believed that the lead ingots used as ballast were substituted with others made of gold.

However, covering the wreck with concrete would seem to me more appropriate. Not that after 60 years underwater you will find bones or anything, but it has always been custom not to salvage or disturb ships where people died in.

Edit: I read a few articles about the discovery of U-864. It seems that the central portion of the sub (the command room) has been pulverized by the torpedo explosion and there are a few bottles of mercury scattered around. Water is also already contamined probably because a good deal of them broke due to the explosion.

[java`s revenge]

Very interesting, thanks for posting