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NEWS
LIVE Torpedo Found in the Gulf
Graywolfgang
Joined: November 28, 2006
KitMaker: 303 posts
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Posted: Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 02:26 PM UTC
While laying some High Intensity Electrical line on the bottom of The Gulf of Mexico between a couple of Drilling about 6000 feet down this is what they came across.. An unexploded German Torpedo.. The electrical line is about 1 metter from it.. Hear are some pictures taken from an ROV.. That is all I can say for now..
MARPAT
Joined: April 14, 2007
KitMaker: 206 posts
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Posted: Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 02:52 PM UTC
Suprise 
. wow that is pretty cool. If I was the ROV operator I would be going 
and say "get me the boss please...". That's really cool keep us informed.
. wow that is pretty cool. If I was the ROV operator I would be going and say "get me the boss please...". That's really cool keep us informed.
wildspear
Joined: April 03, 2007
KitMaker: 960 posts
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Posted: Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 03:44 PM UTC
thats pretty darn neat. 
Graywolfgang
Joined: November 28, 2006
KitMaker: 303 posts
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Posted: Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 04:25 PM UTC
That thing is still live.. They plain on blowing it up this comeing week.. I will keep yall posted..
One of the German U Boats that operated in the Gulf is sitting in about 90 feet of water in the South Pass of the Mississippi River South of New Orleans.. She is off limits.. A war Memorial.. They located an Italian U boat out their also a couple of years ago.. The German U Boat can be seen if you fly over..
One of the German U Boats that operated in the Gulf is sitting in about 90 feet of water in the South Pass of the Mississippi River South of New Orleans.. She is off limits.. A war Memorial.. They located an Italian U boat out their also a couple of years ago.. The German U Boat can be seen if you fly over..
Grumpyoldman
_ADVISORJoined: October 17, 2003
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Posted: Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 06:35 PM UTC
Interesting find, although I did manage to skin my knees on the knee knockers while running to my imaginary battle station. 
gator
Vendor
#027
Joined: April 13, 2005
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Posted: Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 10:38 PM UTC
That must be from U-166. It was sunk by PC-566 after torpedoing the SS Robert E. Lee in 1942. I would imagine that Hurricane Katrina s the reason the fish is now visable.
Gator
Gator
calvin2000
Joined: July 25, 2007
KitMaker: 886 posts
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Posted: Sunday, November 25, 2007 - 06:52 AM UTC
That is what I love about this site. All the neat things that I would otherwise not learn of. 
Graywolfgang
Joined: November 28, 2006
KitMaker: 303 posts
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Posted: Sunday, November 25, 2007 - 10:10 AM UTC
The U Boat that I am talking about was Depth charged by a couple of Civil Air Patrol Grumman Goose’s.. The Caption of U Boat got turned around and headed into a canal instead of open water, and he when he did his crash dive he went right in to the bottom, and that is where he died.. That is where she is sitting in about 90 feet of water..
gator
Vendor
#027
Joined: April 13, 2005
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Posted: Sunday, November 25, 2007 - 10:32 AM UTC
Fred,
So now there's two u-boats on the bottom of the Gulf?
Everything I have read talks only about the U-166 which was sunk by the patrol craft escorting the Robert E. Lee. At first, they believed that a USCG aircraft had sunk it, but archaeologists with C&C Technologies proved differently in 2001.
Now White and Boggs attacked a U-boat two days after the Lee was sunk but they have found out that was U-171.
U-166
Gator
So now there's two u-boats on the bottom of the Gulf?
Everything I have read talks only about the U-166 which was sunk by the patrol craft escorting the Robert E. Lee. At first, they believed that a USCG aircraft had sunk it, but archaeologists with C&C Technologies proved differently in 2001.
Now White and Boggs attacked a U-boat two days after the Lee was sunk but they have found out that was U-171.
U-166
Gator
goldenpony
Joined: July 03, 2007
KitMaker: 3,529 posts
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Posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 - 12:39 AM UTC
I think you are both talking about the U166. That is the only official missing U-boat in the gulf. German records confirm only one missing U-Boat, but there were two reported sunk. One was by a plane and one was by a cutter. I had seen that show on Deep Sea Detectives about the sinking of the sub. But like Kenny had said they proved it was sunk by the cutter.
It is amazing how many other ships were sunk in the gulf during the war. The German’s really like to sneak in there and cause problems.
The Coast Guard still has the credit going to a plane, http://www.uscg.mil/History/U-166%20Sinking.html
After so many years does it matter who sank the sub? Some say yes, others say no.
It is amazing how many other ships were sunk in the gulf during the war. The German’s really like to sneak in there and cause problems.
The Coast Guard still has the credit going to a plane, http://www.uscg.mil/History/U-166%20Sinking.html
After so many years does it matter who sank the sub? Some say yes, others say no.
gator
Vendor
#027
Joined: April 13, 2005
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Posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 - 02:59 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I think you are both talking about the U166. That is the only official missing U-boat in the gulf. German records confirm only one missing U-Boat, but there were two reported sunk. One was by a plane and one was by a cutter. I had seen that show on Deep Sea Detectives about the sinking of the sub. But like Kenny had said they proved it was sunk by the cutter.
It is amazing how many other ships were sunk in the gulf during the war. The German’s really like to sneak in there and cause problems.
The Coast Guard still has the credit going to a plane, http://www.uscg.mil/History/U-166%20Sinking.html
After so many years does it matter who sank the sub? Some say yes, others say no.
Ahoy Jim.
I know that Deep Sea Detectives episode well. That episode started me on my quest to find out everything I could about the u-boat war in the Gulf of Mexico. Shortly after the program, I ordered the book "Torpedoes in the Gulf". What an awesome read! I've also met the gentleman from C & C Technologies who discovered the U-166. They have been trying to get the author of "Torpedoes in the Gulf" to update her book now that the U-166 has been found. If I ever get the time, I'm planning on writing a modeler's guide to the War in the Gulf.
Here's my review of "Torpedoes in the Gulf"
Gator
goldenpony
Joined: July 03, 2007
KitMaker: 3,529 posts
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Posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 - 04:45 AM UTC
The fact the U boats operated in the Gulf is not widely talked about in history classes. They focus on the main battle of the Atlantic, but pretty much forget about the gulf and the Caribbean.
I know there is a U-boat off the coast of North Carolina that is dive able. They came close to shore and did their business and we as American’s are never really told about that. During Operation Drumbeat one U-boat would shot tankers on the surface with its deck gun. They had to be careful to be between the ship and the shore so they would not hit the US by accident.
Then when you talk about them coming into the Gulf of Mexico, which is like our own lake. But ask history students how many of them have heard about it.
I know there is a U-boat off the coast of North Carolina that is dive able. They came close to shore and did their business and we as American’s are never really told about that. During Operation Drumbeat one U-boat would shot tankers on the surface with its deck gun. They had to be careful to be between the ship and the shore so they would not hit the US by accident.
Then when you talk about them coming into the Gulf of Mexico, which is like our own lake. But ask history students how many of them have heard about it.
gator
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#027
Joined: April 13, 2005
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Posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 - 10:08 AM UTC
The Gulf was such good hunting that the Germans called it the second "happy time."
24 u-boats sunk 56 ships and damaged 14 others.
Gator
24 u-boats sunk 56 ships and damaged 14 others.
Gator
MARPAT
Joined: April 14, 2007
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Posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 - 01:35 PM UTC
I really hate how they don't talk about such important facts in history class 
. I should bring this up when we do WW2 in American History. So many people don't realize what kind of work the CG had to do to protect the coast. It's a shame.
. I should bring this up when we do WW2 in American History. So many people don't realize what kind of work the CG had to do to protect the coast. It's a shame. 
95bravo
Joined: November 18, 2003
KitMaker: 2,242 posts
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Posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 - 04:38 PM UTC
Thanks for sharing this Fred! I passed this along to my MP brothers and it has generated a interesting conversation regarding the U-853. Apparently in the 1960s while doing restoration work on Padanaram Bridge near South Dartmouth, Mass, they discovered a German torpedo wedge in the rocks at the base of the bridge pillars. It was believed that they attempted to blowup the bridge. The U-853 lies 17.5 miles off shore from this bridge.
Great thread!
Great thread!
jimb
Joined: August 25, 2006
KitMaker: 2,539 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 06:54 AM UTC
I read somewhere that there were (2) German U-boats & (1) Italian U-boat sunk in The Gulf. Of course I cannot find the reference now.
Does onyone know the U-boat that is off of Point Judith, RI? Apparently it's a pretty popular wreck dive site, but it's down there. About 120ft if I remember correctly. Couple of my friends from MA have dove on it, but that was a while ago.
Jim
Does onyone know the U-boat that is off of Point Judith, RI? Apparently it's a pretty popular wreck dive site, but it's down there. About 120ft if I remember correctly. Couple of my friends from MA have dove on it, but that was a while ago.
Jim
gator
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#027
Joined: April 13, 2005
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Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 07:00 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I read somewhere that there were (2) German U-boats & (1) Italian U-boat sunk in The Gulf. Of course I cannot find the reference now.
Does onyone know the U-boat that is off of Point Judith, RI? Apparently it's a pretty popular wreck dive site, but it's down there. About 120ft if I remember correctly. Couple of my friends from MA have dove on it, but that was a while ago.
Jim
Jim,
I know that there was the U-166 sunk during war time and then there was a Type XXI (?) sunk around Key West after the war as a weapons test. I'll have to check some sources about the Italian. I've got an idea, but I'll need to do some searching first.
Gator
95bravo
Joined: November 18, 2003
KitMaker: 2,242 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 10:30 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Does onyone know the U-boat that is off of Point Judith, RI? Apparently it's a pretty popular wreck dive site, but it's down there. About 120ft if I remember correctly. Couple of my friends from MA have dove on it, but that was a while ago.
Jim
I think that might be the 853. The depth sounds about right and it's location is SE of the RI and Mass state lines about 17 miles.
goldenpony
Joined: July 03, 2007
KitMaker: 3,529 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 10:48 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I really hate how they don't talk about such important facts in history class
I know this is off topic, but history classes have whitewashed some rather inportant events over the years. Even since I was in High school things have been watered down. It is sad.
OK, enough of my complaining.
Diving one fo those sites would be way cool. Of course I need to learn to dive and then get the experience to go that deep, but it would still be really nice to do sometime.
jimb
Joined: August 25, 2006
KitMaker: 2,539 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 04:30 PM UTC
It's not just beign able to go deep on scuba, wreck diving is a seperate certification. Especially if you do penetration, not easy on a submarine. Never done a wreck dive, would love to. Apparently there are several relatively shallow wrecks in the St. Lawerance. Deepest I've ever been is 80ft. Scuba is a different experience.
Jim
Jim
jimb
Joined: August 25, 2006
KitMaker: 2,539 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 02:38 AM UTC
As it turns out, the U-boat that is off of Point Judith, RI, is U-853. She was sunk on May 6, 1945, the day after Karl Dönitz ordered all U-boats to cease offensive operations & return to base. Let's face it, by this time that war was practically over. U-853 was the second to last U-boat sunk in WWII. All hands lost. She was a Type IXC/40 submarine.
Jim
Jim
95bravo
Joined: November 18, 2003
KitMaker: 2,242 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 03:51 AM UTC
Quoted Text
As it turns out, the U-boat that is off of Point Judith, RI, is U-853. She was sunk on May 6, 1945, the day after Karl Dönitz ordered all U-boats to cease offensive operations & return to base. Let's face it, by this time that war was practically over. U-853 was the second to last U-boat sunk in WWII. All hands lost. She was a Type IXC/40 submarine.
Jim
A rather interesting tid-bit regarding the 853:
From an earlier post of mine
I passed this along to my MP brothers and it has generated a interesting conversation regarding the U-853. Apparently in the 1960s while doing restoration work on Padanaram Bridge near South Dartmouth, Mass, they discovered a German torpedo wedge in the rocks at the base of the bridge pillars. It was believed that they attempted to blowup the bridge. The U-853 lies 17.5 miles off shore from this bridge.
Graywolfgang
Joined: November 28, 2006
KitMaker: 303 posts
Model Shipwrights: 13 posts
Posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 12:50 PM UTC
Hear is an update to the Torpedo found in the Gulfof Mexico...
Subject: Torpedo Find during FO Cable Lay
Note resemblance to U-boat torpedoes used in the Gulf
http://www.pastfoundation.org/DeepWrecks/TheGermanU-boat.htm.
This was found about 4 miles from the Alcoa Puritan, which was sunk by the U-507.
The U-boat fired a torpedo at the Alcoa and missed, who then tried to
outrun the 507. The U-507 gave chase, firing its deck cannon at the
Alcoa until her steering gear was disabled. It would be interesting if
this turned out to be the torpedo that missed! We found and recovered
one of the shell casings from the U-507's deck gun that is now preserved
in the D-Day Museum. Incidentally, these were packed with 620 pounds of
high explosive.
Subject: Torpedo Find during FO Cable Lay
Note resemblance to U-boat torpedoes used in the Gulf
http://www.pastfoundation.org/DeepWrecks/TheGermanU-boat.htm.
This was found about 4 miles from the Alcoa Puritan, which was sunk by the U-507.
The U-boat fired a torpedo at the Alcoa and missed, who then tried to
outrun the 507. The U-507 gave chase, firing its deck cannon at the
Alcoa until her steering gear was disabled. It would be interesting if
this turned out to be the torpedo that missed! We found and recovered
one of the shell casings from the U-507's deck gun that is now preserved
in the D-Day Museum. Incidentally, these were packed with 620 pounds of
high explosive.
gator
Vendor
#027
Joined: April 13, 2005
KitMaker: 5,422 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 01:51 PM UTC
Oh wow! Now we know what happens when a fish misses it's target. Imagine what the Pacific sea floor looks like!
Thanks Fred!
Gator
Thanks Fred!
Gator
jimb
Joined: August 25, 2006
KitMaker: 2,539 posts
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Posted: Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 01:13 AM UTC
You know, Gator, I wonder about that, too. In some areas of the Pacific, maybe, but some of the battles took place in very deep areas. Wouldn't the torpedos implode after a certain depth?
Jim
Jim
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