Wreck of U-boat declared war grave.

[u-5075]

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topst ... 3961906.jp

There are two articles at this url. The second article is the one about the U-boat. I'm rather surprised and saddened that there was any question about this being a war grave and its needing to be protected.



Forth U-boat to be protected war grave

CAMPAIGNERS have won their battle to have the wreck of a German U-boat, sunk off the Firth of Forth, declared a protected war grave.

U-714 was sunk in March 1945 by depth charges from South African frigate HMSAS Natal and the British destroyer HMS Vivern. All of the ship's 50-strong crew were lost.

Roger Williams, who was 18 when he dropped the depth charges, and Axel Schwebcke, the son of the 27-year-old German skipper who died, have campaigned for the wreck to get protected status.

The wreck of the U-boat was discovered by divers from South Queensferry Sub Aqua Club 18 months ago.

Mr Williams, who lives in South Africa, said his campaign was not about guilt or regret. He said: "It was the circumstance of the time. We have respect for seamen of all nations; that is part of the brotherhood of the sea."

Stevie Adams, from South Queensferry, who helped find the site, said he kept its location secret so it was not disturbed by looters. He said: "This protected status is great, because it does mean that people are told they can look but not touch anything at the site."

[Guest]

Unfortunately it still wont save

Unfortunately it still wont save it being robbed. They need to enforce strict penaltieson anyone breaking the law, which does not happen

[hakkikt]

Yes, depending on how deep

Yes, depending on how deep she is. "off the Firth of Forth" does not sound like easy access by scuba divers, but committed diver teams with the right equipment can probably do it if the money is right.

[davietait]

Very easy access , plenty

Very easy access , plenty of dive charter boats and the depth is a max of 120-150ft so well within the boundaries of normal air dives , no need for fancy gas mixes there. Just have to hope the reputable dive charter skippers report anyone diving on or near the wreck ( which they will probably do ). You can day rent boats out of Dunbar to go out angling or diving from and plenty of private individuals with their own boats in the Firth of Forth too.

[hakkikt]

Not even 50m, that is

Not even 50m, that is bad news. So you just need good tools to get a souvenir or two and a fat tank to do the deco. There goes the war grave... If she was a British sub, people might show restraint, but probably not with one of the old enemy.
Honestly, I hope I can make it there one day. Diving a U-boat in good condition is one of my scuba dreams. Look and take nothing, of course. No smiley attached.

[Guest]

Special Tools = Axe
With metal

Special Tools = Axe
With metal rusting an axe will help remove most "artifacts"
Note i dont advocate this on war wrecks, but on post war commercial vessels it is quite easy.

@ 50m you are pushing your luck on air, especially in cold water.

I have dived a japanese sub, as well as a Japanese minisub, but a true U boat would be fantastic.

[hakkikt]

A friend of mine dived

A friend of mine dived a British sub off the coast of Malta, at 50+ m. They had around 2 minutes ground time before they had to go up again, using 1x15 l bottles @ 200+ bar. Spare air was hanging down from the boat for deco of course, but I guess that is already "pushing your luck".
They were only looking ofc. Doing work down there even in those few minutes would turn the risk knob a few more notches.

I have been deeper than 50 a few times in a wetsuit in a lake here, but cannot say that I enjoyed it. I guess that U-boat calls for a drysuit and 2x20 l.

Where have you dived the Japanese sub? Truk Lagoon?

[anonymous]

In defence of amateur divers,

In defence of amateur divers, I think it is easy to get a little too sensitive about war graves. Wrecks of this vintage in a relatively shallow, tidal marine environment are not well preserved anyway. Amateur divers can't do very much damage either. (Commercial divers with explosive can!)

I've dived the British submarine M2 off Portland along with probably thousands of other amateur divers . This is also a war grave and so divers do not enter the wreck as a mark of respect. It is also quite shallow at about 100 feet but I don't think it has suffered any significant damage. ( Some gauges on its conning tower and aircraft hangar went long ago, however.)

David

[Guest]

The japanese sub was indeed

The japanese sub was indeed in Truk lagoon, the minisub was PNG, lieing next to a sunken maru. Hakkikt, yes your firends were pushing their luck. One small problem can lead to more, most of the time dives like this go ok, but it only needs one thing!

45-60M range = 2 x14L backgas, 1 x 5.5Litre O2, 1 x 5.5L 50% O2

Davy - you would be suprised how much can be hacked off with an axe. Many ametuer (technical divers) can haul off quite a bit of stuff. Portholes are particularly nice souvenirs (tho not from subs of course). Some areas take this very seriously, the Yongala a pasenger ferry which sank off Queensland is one case where several people have been arrested and hit with hefty fines just for entering the wreck.