A French-Egyptian archaeological mission from the French Institute for Archaeological Studies may have discovered the oldest harbour ever found in Egypt, situated on the Red Sea shore at Wadi Al-Jarf area along the Suez-Zaafarana road
The harbour goes back to the reign of the fourth dynasty King Khufu, the owner of the Great Pyramid in Giza Plateau. The harbour is considered one of the most important commercial harbours where trading trips to export copper and other minerals from Sinai were launched.
A collection of vessel anchors carved in stone was also discovered as well as the harbours different docks.
Minister of State for Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim announced that a collection of 40 papyri, showing details of daily life of ancient Egyptians during the 27th year of King Khufu’s reign, was also unearthed during excavation work carried out.
“These are the oldest papyri ever found in Egypt,” asserted Ibrahim.
He also stated that these papyri are very important because it reveals more information on the ancient Egyptians’ daily life, as it includes monthly reports of the number of labours working in the harbour and details of their lives.
The papyri have been transferred to the Suez Museum for study and documentation.
French Egyptologist Pierre Tallet, director of the archaeological mission, pointed out that it is very important to carefully study the information in these papyri because it will introduce plenty of information about this period. The papyri will also show the nature of life that the ancient Egyptians once lived, their rights and duties, which we know little about, Tallet added.
The mission has also succeeded in discovering remains of workers’ houses, which reveals the importance of this harbour and area commercially whether among the different cities of Egypt or abroad, said Adel Hussein, head of the Ancient Egyptian Sector at the Ministry of State for Antiquities.
A collection of 30 caves were also discovered along with the stone blocks used to block their entrances, inscribed with King Khufu’s cartouche written in red ink. Ship ropes and stone tools used to cut ropes and wooden remains were discovered as well.
Marine archaeologists working on a wreck off the coast of Sicily have discovered five large cannon from a British ship, believed to have sunk in a major battle with Spanish galleons.
The team searching waters near the city of Syracuse said the "exceptional" find dates back to the Battle of Cape Passaro in the early 1700s.
Pictures taken by divers show the cannon were barely covered by sand. The discovery has helped pinpoint the exact location of the famous battle.
The cannon have now been brought to the surface - after 300 years in the deep sea - and cleaned.
According to the archaeologists, they are in such fine condition that - in some places - the barrels still gleam in the light.
The team said they were able to identify the guns using part of an inscription on the handle of a piece of cutlery also discovered nearby.
The letters LONDO were found under what appeared to be a picture of an English rose, clearly indicating the word London - they said.
This and other evidence has convinced the researchers that the cannon came from a British vessel sunk at the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718.
The battle involved more than 60 ships and ended in defeat for the Spanish.
At the time, the British were attempting to drive them out of Sicily.
Bobby Whiddon/ Bluffton Spotted Archaeologist
Ashley Deming shows the parts of the ship that have been
recovered so far.
University of South Carolina maritime archaeologists are planning to teach students how to dive off the state’s coast and uncover the secrets of an old shipwreck.
Spokeswoman Megan Sexton said Friday’s event in Hilton Head Island featured archaeologist Ashley Deming, who is teaching a sport diver archaeology management course.
The course trains licensed scuba divers to become archaeological eyes and ears as they identify and record valuable information about the shipwreck.
Deming is using sections of a wooden vessel that was beached near Harbour Town Golf Links and has a 10-foot portion that is exposed above water. Sexton said the vessel may be from the Civil War era and has not yet been explored by archaeologists.
An archaeologist diver claims to have discovered the remains of a sunken Dutch merchant vessel containing RM500 million (S$199 million)worth of cultural relics, about three nautical miles off Pulau Besar here.
The Kuala Lumpur-based archaeologist, who wanted to be known only as David so he could remain anonymous, believes the vessel could have escaped the roving eyes of underwater relic hunters as it was buried by undersea sand.
The wooden galleon is said to have sunk with the loads of treasures about 400 years ago. It may have a number of well-preserved relics like ceramics, old coins, beads, glass and gold ingots.
David believes the find is the first intact wreck related to the Dutch occupation of Malacca.
He and his team found the near complete hull structure about 1m under the seabed, and 27m beneath the ocean's surface off the Straits of Malacca in May.
"The discovery is so monumental because much of the hull has remained intact and the vessel appears to be well preserved due to the sand," he said.
David said there were also six other shipwrecks at the same site.
Malacca Museum Authority's general manager Datuk Khamis Abas said the wooden vessel had been detected during an underwater survey conducted by several maritime agencies a few years ago.
"Due to the strong undercurrent, the expedition team could only record the sighting without doing any research," he said.
Khamis said the team had also alerted the Heritage Department on the finding of the Dutch vessel.
He advised the archaeologist's team to contact the Heritage Department to get permission to conduct more research.
The Star previously reported that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam was aware of alleged theft of these submerged treasures.
He said irresponsible individuals had gone underwater to take away the national treasures that were worth billions.
You may recall my article on U-boat Museums and exhibits. Most of the U-boats from WWII were used for scrap metal. Some found themselves in the many Uboat museums around the world, and others found their home at the bottom of the ocean.
The U701 was sunk by aerial depth charges dropped from an A-29 Bomber on July 7, 1942. The remains of the vessel are located almost 30 miles offshore, in 120 feet of water near Diamond Shoals in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
This dive video was created by the UNC Coastal Institute formed in 2003, which offers educational opportunities, provides community outreach programs, and enhances communication among those concerned with the unique history, culture and environment of the maritime counties of North Carolina.
According to the UNC-CSI , the U-701 sites is well known for challenging conditions and potentially strong currents, often making it a difficult dive. It was well worth it in my opinion, as this video provides us a glimpse into the unique history of submarine warfare.
So what exactly happened to the U-boats after World War II? Many u-boats were used for scrap metal, however some retired to some of the most recognizable and popular museums in the world. People like you and I can take a gander at the accommodations, walk down the tightly constructed decks, and gaze upon the operational equipment used during submarine warfare, that looks almost too complicated to understand.
U-505 at The Museum of Science in Chicago, Illinois
My first experience with a U-boat was at the Science and Industry Museum in Chicago close to 15 years ago. At that time, the German U-505 German Submarine- Type IXC Long Range Attack u-boat exhibit - was kept inside the main museum. The U-505 Submarine was commissioned in 1941 and from there on out, suffered countless malfunctions and a string of bad luck. One account speaks of a commanding officer who committed suicide on board. The crowning blo, however, came when the US boarded the vessel and took possession on June, 1944, NW of Dakar. The US officers found secret documents and confiscated equipment while on board. The U-boat Submarine is surprisingly in pristine condition, completely intact, and is amongst the few surviving U-boats in the world.
U-534 at The Historic Warships Museum, Birkenhead, United Kingdom
The U-534 German Submarine- Type IXC Long Range Attack U-Boat-was commissioned in December 1942. With only a small amount of time spent at sea, she was already spotted by a British Liberator while sailing in the Kattegat, Denmark on 5th May 1945. She was, of course, sailing on the surface along with three other U-boats, making her demise inevitable. The Liberator attacked and promptly sank her with ten depth charges, this came after the first initial nine misses and then a direct hit. There were 49 survivors.
In 1993, she was raised by a Danish consortium Aage Jensen, with the ceremony being witnessed by her own surviving crew and those of the Liberator who sank her. Rumors were swarming at the time that U-534 held a hoard of Nazi gold, prompting immense media coverage. The uboat was empty, however, much to people’s dismay.
U-995 at The Navy Memorial, Laboe, Germany (Laboe, Strandstrasse 92, Germany)
The U-995 German Submarine - Type VIIC/41i was used for submarine warfare and was commissioned in September 1943 with Oberleutnant Walter Köhntopp in command. The heavy duty “work horse”, she was called, is the last surviving of her kind. The U-995 surrendered to the Allies at the end of the war, and was handed to the British as war booty. During her hay day, the U-995 sunk three ships for 1,560 GRT, one auxiliary warship sunk for 633 GRT, one warship for 105 tons, and one ship a total loss for 7,176 GRT. In 1948, she was transferred to the Norwegian Navy before being returned to her homeland in Germany for the symbolic price of one Deutsche Mark. The U-995 is now a museum ship, as tourists can walk through the entire vessel.
U-61 - World War 1 Attack Boat at The Bayerisches Armeemuseum, Ingolstadt, Germany
The U-61- German Type U-57 submarine warfare attack vessel - was commissioned in December 1916. U-61 sank 33 allied ships, totaling 84,564 tons. She also damaged 7 ships of 23,783 tons and the US destroyer USS Cassin before fleeing the fight. After being forced to the surface by depth charge, she was rammed and sunk in March 1918 by US submarine chaser PC-51 with all hands in the Irish Sea. The 88mm deck gun is all that remains of this boat and is on display in Ingolstadt, Germany.
The U-1 at The Deutsches Museum, Munich, Germany
The U-1 German Submarine- Gasoline Powered Boat-was launched in August 1906, however it was never used for submarine warfare. It was used as a training vessel. “Testing of the U-1 resulted in a collision while on a training exercise in 1919. The U-1 was sold to the Germaniawerft foundation at the Deutsches Museum in Munich where it was restored and can be viewed on display.”
U-9 at The Naval Museum of the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol, Ukraine
The U-9 German Submarine - Type IIB Coastal Attack U-Boat Submarine-was commissioned in August 193. The U-9 was a Type II used for coastal submarine warfare, carrying out 19 patrols and claiming 9 ships before being sunk by Russian aircraft on 20th August 1944 at Constanza, Romania. The emblem of the U-9 was the Iron Cross, welded on the conning tower in memory of the first U-9 under Otto Weddigen. You’ ll remember that on September 22, 1914, commander of the U-9 Captain Otto Weddigen, sank three English vessels in less than an hour. The Soviets raised the U-9 in 1945 and the insignia is now on display in Sevastopol, Ukraine.
Brandtaucher - World’s Oldest Diving Boat
The Brandtaucher is the world’s oldest diving boat on display at the Militärhistorisches Museum. The Brandtaucher was built in 1850 by Wilhelm Bauer and is one of the first submersibles which had all the basic elements of a functional submarine and later became a forerunner of the U-boats that we know of.
On February 1, 1851 BrandtaucherOn 5th July 1887, the boat was recovered and today it is on display in Dresden, Germany.
U-2540 at Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum (German Maritime Museum) Bremerhaven, Germany
The U-2540 German Submarine - Type XXI Elektroboat-was used as an advanced u-boat submarine, entering service in February 1945. Less than 3 months later U-2540 was destroyed by her own crew. In 1957, she was raised after spending more than ten years at the bottom of the Baltic Sea and returned to service on 1st September 1960 as the research submarine Wilhelm Bauer.
You’ll remember that in 1850, Wilhelm Bauer was asked to design a submarine for the government, incorporating all aspects of the more modern vessels. The Brandtaucher weighed 70,000 pounds, was 28 feet long, and was powered by two sailors turning a tread wheel. U-2540 served in a civilian role under various research projects before decommissioning on 15th March 1982.” On 24th April 1984, she was transferred to the Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum (German Maritime Museum) as the Technikmuseum Wilhelm Bauer. U-2540 is the only floating example of a XXI U-boat.”
UB-46 at The Turkish Naval Museum, Istanbul, Turkey
The UB-46- Type UB II Coastal Attack Boat- was commissioned in June 1916, she operated in Turkish waters and claimed 13 ships before hitting a mine in the Black Sea and sinking with all hands in December 1916. None of her 20 men crew survived. The UB-46 was a little more than 121 feet (37 m) in length and displaced between 270 and 305 metric tons (300 and 336 short tons), depending on whether surfaced or submerged. She was equipped to carry a complement of four torpedoes for her two bow torpedo tubes and had a 5-centimeter deck gun. Today, parts of her hull are on display in the Turkish Naval Museum (Demiz Muzesi) in Istanbul, Turkey.
In conclusion, if you haven't seen one yet, and let's face it, you should, it's a wonderful opportunity to experience an important aspect of our history as a nation, and all over the world.
Related Articles
History of the Submarine and German U-Boat Fleet
Cornelius Drebbel, a Dutch inventor working for the English Royal Navy, tested the first submarine on the Thames River in England. Between 1620 and 1624 Drebbel successfully built and tested two more submarines, each one bigger than the last.
Although Kitty Hawk North Carolina would become home to the first manned flight of human kind, the Germans would take these physical parameters into a whole new realm. As the skies offered another battlefield in which to kill and mame, countries that did not embrace this new arena were quickly left behind. During the first world war, the Germans would gain an early edge over most of the Allies as concerned with WWI aircraft. Planes used during World War I became designed around the many German models, which would help the Allies win many later battles of the global war. There are many WWI planes that were important during the war although some played far greater roles than others.
Brandtaucher - World’s Oldest Diving Boat Picture via Wikipedia
**This article was part of a compilation of U-boat articles that managed to get lost within the extensive details of the series. I'm presenting it again for you to enjoy!
Saltwater canoes usually don't survive as drifting up on shore allows the elements to take hold or the ocean simply chews up the vessel.
Harry Koran found the canoe after walking up the shorline of Pinellas County in Tampa Bay. Koran knew it was man made because of the straight lines, slopped sides, and evidence of burning. Dug our canoes were made by the Native Americans by using controlled burns inside the tree. Afterwards, the remains are dug out.
Archaeologists underwent exploratory excavations and sent a piece to the lab for radio carbon dating. The resulting date was 890 AD.
Watch the full video of the history of this vessel and where it's future will be.
Sheryl Ward is from the Department of Anthropology at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida and Chiara Zazzaro is from the Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter, UK.
If you weren't aware of the archaeological data collected at the site, this article is a great resource.
From peg mortise-and-tenon-joinery, weather-cocking, and a full and fascinating explanation of ship construction, Shelley Wachsmann from Texas A&M University lectures on an ancient boat discovered in 1986.
In 1986, a 2,000-year-old boat was discovered in Israel on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. The vessel is representative of the large fishing boats common on the ancient lake, and the type of boat used in the Gospels by the disciples of Jesus. It is also the type of boat used by the Jews in the brutal nautical Battle of Migdal in AD 67 against a makeshift Roman fleet. The lecture describes the adventure of the boat's discovery and excavation, and delves into the revealing research about the vessel and its milieu.
Due to the amazing response to my first edition of the U-boat history, I decided to follow it up with what happened to the U-boats after World War II.
Near the end of World War II, Germany took a direct approach to hide and even completely destroy its fleet of U-boats before their surrender to the allies. Operation Deadlight was the code name for the destruction of more than 121 U-boats after World War II in abysmal water off Lisahally, Northern Ireland or Loch Ryan, Scotland in late 1945 and early 1946. The remaining 145 U- boats used during World War II were surrendered to the allies.
German U-boat in action 1941
Even after their defeat, the German Bundesmarine still found a way to maintain a navy, even though it was on a smaller scale. They raised two U-boats initially, the Type XXIIIs and a Type XXI, which were repaired. West Germany reentered the submarine market once again in the 1960’s, limited by design criterion including a 450 tonne displacement limit. In an effort to protect against the Soviets in the Baltic Sea, they built smaller submarines enhanced by amagnetic steel to protect against naval mines and magnetic anomaly detectors.
The Type 201 U-boats after World War II, were the first to use amagnetic steel to protect against naval mines. The Type 201 U-boats suffered cracking issues in the hull, sending them into an earlier retirement. The later Type 205 U-boat would use regular steel to combat the issue.
In 1967, 12 Type 205 U-boats were constructed for the German Navy. To maintain their tradition, the first u-boat received the U designation starting with the U-1. The first U-1 was launched in 1906, the boat measuring close to 140 feet long, weighing 238 tons, and could carry 20 men. The new versions were 144 feet long, were 450 long tons surfaced and 500 long tons submerged, and carried 22 men.
The Danish were the first to purchase two Type 205 submarines. When the Type 206 U-boats were assembled, three of them were shipped to the Israeli Navy, thus becoming the Gal class. Germany realized the power they held in the export business, therefore they continued to develop and improve on each u-boat before the last.
“The 209 diesel-electric submarines were the most popular export-sales submarine in the world from the late 1960s into the first years of the 21st century. With a larger 1,000-1,500 tonne displacement, the class was very customizable and has seen service with 14 navies with 51 examples being built as of 2006.”
The Type 212 U-boats christened the 21st century, making their homes in countries such as Italy, with the Type 214 boats sold to Greece, Turkey, and South Korea. The Type 212 submarines were much safer in design, featuring an air-independent propulsion system using hydrogen fuel cells. This system is cheaper than a nuclear reactor and quieter than both. In July 2006, Germany commissioned its newest U-boat, the U-34, a Type 212.
Final Thought
Many u-boats after World War II were used for scrap metal, however some retired to the many u-boat museums around the world.
In 1620, Cornelius Drebbel, a Dutch inventor working for the English Royal Navy, tested the first submarine on the Thames River in England. Between 1620 and 1624 Drebbel successfully built and tested two more submarines, each one bigger than the last.
Van Drebbel followed his first boat with two others. The later models were larger but they relied upon the same principles. It is reported that after repeated tests, King James I of England rode in one of his later models to demonstrate its safety. But even royal favour failed to arouse the interest of the British Navy. It was an age when the possibility of submarine warfare was still far in the future.~Dutch Submarines
During the 18th century, the Turtle was designed by David Bushnell which held one person. It was the first submarine capable of independent movement and the first to use screws for propulsion. During the American Revolutionary War, Turtle (operated by Sgt. Ezra Lee, Continental Army) tried and failed to sink the British warship HMS Eagle, flagship of the blockaders in New York harbor on September 7, 1776.
In 1850, Wilhelm Bauer was asked to design a submarine for the government, incorporating all aspects of the more modern vessels. The Brandtaucher weighed 70,000 pounds, was 28 feet long, and was powered by two sailors turning a tread wheel. Bauer had previously created a model of a larger scale submarine that proved to be functional, however the government refused to accept the design. Tanks of sea water would be filled before submersion, allowing the vessel to stay under the water longer. Since the government chosr to deter from this design, the submarine would be flooded with water, instead of just a few tanks to keep it stable. Brandtaucher sank during a test drive; however Bauer still became instrumental in the development of the English and Russian submarine programs. John Holland later invented electric engines, horizontal rudders, and water ballasts.
On August 4, 1906, the first German U-boat, Unterseeboot-eins, was launched at Danzig. The world’s superpowers had no idea, and honestly, were not concerned with the introduction of the new German submarine. World War I would be the first time the fleet of U-boats would make a lasting impression on the outcome of the war, and change the opinions of the English, Russians, French, and Americans.
Great Britain may have paved the way for industrialism during the first revolution, however after 1870; Germany was swiftly replacing Great Britain as the Industrial leader in Europe.
Since the industrial plant had already been established in Great Britain, it was difficult to transition to new techniques and machinery. The Germans, however, built the latest and most efficient manufacturing plants. Since Britain was notoriously suspicious of any new innovations in industry, they chose not to invest in the latest machinery, thus they suffered economically in that aspect. The German industrialists were accustomed to change, so acquiring more capital from banks for expansion was never a concern. Furthermore, German industry was aided by professionals in science and technology who consistently worked with firms to produce the latest in inventions for efficient and economically productive products.~ The Second Industrial Revolution During the 19th Century
Germany saw a need to protect her small coast, especially after gaining new overseas colonies. Trading ships that transported raw materials and industrial goods needed to be protected on the world seas. At the end of the 19th century, William II of Germany recognized the need to cooperate with industrialists, especially considering Germany’s industry rivaled that of England.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the German Navy, although not as large as England’s, had become a bit dangerous in nature. England became aware of this fact, considering its fleets were always as large, if not larger, that the three largest naval powers in Europe combined. Europe immediately started to increase its navy, however in 1905 Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz started working on defensive and offensive submarines.
German industrialist Gustav Krupp funded the new submarine fleet, built by Spanish engineer Raymond Lorenzo d’Equevilley-Monjustin. Monjustin came to Krupp in 1901 with the grandiose idea for double hulled submarines, capable of long range attacks. Originally, Krupp had inquired about the funding from Tirpitz, however Tirpitz believed the vessels would never accomplish a surface vessel attack. How wrong he would be.
With his own money, Krupp funded the entire plan, thus several features of the submarines were dismissed when funding ran out. The first prototype was introduced on June 8, 1903 and measured 13 meters long and traveled 40 nautical km at a surface speed of 4 knots. Submerged, the vessel traveled at 5.6 knots. The first test in 1904 impressed William II, however Kaiser Tirpitz was still quite hesitant in investing money in a vessel not proven in combat.
Interestingly enough, the first submarine was sold to the Russians in 1904 for the Russo-Japanese War, along with three other vessels of the same design-called the Karp Class. The original design was improved once Krupp's engineers started building them for the Russians. In 1905, Tirpitz finally agreed to purchase submarines for the Germany fleet at the price of 1.5 million marks.
The Launching of the German U-boat U-1
The first U-boat, the U-1, launched in 1906. The boat measured close to 140 feet long, weighed 238 tons, and could carry 20 men. U-1 was armed with a 46 cm bow torpedo tube with three self-propelled torpedoes and an 88 mm deck gun. The U-1 could reach maximum speeds of 10.8 knots on the surface and 8.7 knots while submerged. The cruising range, measuring 2,414 km, made the new U-1 U-boat an important new weapon for Germany.
“Testing of the U-1 resulted in a collision while on a training exercise in 1919. The U-1 was sold to the Germaniawerft foundation at the Deutsches Museum in Munich where it was restored and can be viewed on display.”
World Power Opinions of the U-boat Fleet
German U-boat U-1
Image Via Wikipedia SM U-1
The introduction of the German U-1 was hardly a reason for the largest navies in the world to be alarmed. The Germans had entered the waters a bit too late, especially if they wanted to rival the numbers of vessels in the fleets of the great world powers. At the time, France had 123 submarines, England had 72, Russia had 41, United States had 34, and Germany had 26. This would prove to be a minute issue for the Germans as their fleet continued to grow.
The German U-boat Fleet Commands the Seas
German U-boat U-9
Image Via Wikipedia SM U-9
On September 22, 1914, commander of the U-9 Captain Otto Weddigen, sank three English vessels in less than an hour. England relied heavily on commercial trade, so the sinking of their commercial fleet led to a shortage of essentials that couldn’t reach them. England’s surface waters were now open to German U-boat attacks, and this was an admission the admiralty of England could not ignore.
October 14, 1914, Lietenant Captain Feldkirchner, commander of the U-17, sunk the English steamer, the SS Glitra off the Norwegian coast. In 1907, an agreement at Geneva outlawed surprise attacks on civilian steam ships, however Germany blockaded the British Isles and started sinking commercial vessels. U-17 was decommissioned on 27 January 1919 and sold for scrapping.
German U-boat Attacks RMS Lusitania
The Lusitania, carrying war supplies for the war effort, had already been warned prior to its final voyage. In fact, the German embassy posted a full page advertisement in the New York Times, warning Americans that German U-boats would be in the water and may attack due to the wartime cargo aboard the ship. Against warnings, the Lusitania sailed. On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was torpedoed by the German U-boat U-20 under the command of KL Walther Schwieger, , killing close to 1200 people, 124 of which were Americans. Rumors serviced that blamed German U-boats for the second explosion, after the Lusitania was already sinking. Further investigations, however, proved that the explosion was due to the ammunition aboard Lusitania.
Public outcry and protest by the Americans forced Germany to stop attacks on civilian ships
Image via Wikipedia RMS Lusitania
The Consequences of the German U-boat Fleet
Fearing the Americans would enter the war, Germany grew desperate. General Erich Ludendorff and Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg set up a blockade, to render England helpless before America could intervene. Three vessels were sunk forcing President Woodrow Wilson to ask Congress to formally declare war on Germany. This concreted Germany’s defeat in the war.
The ending result and consequence of the launching of the first U-1 set the ground for a major conflict between America and Germany, prior to World War II.
Video Of German U-boat 1940
This German propaganda movie was part of a U.S. Navy archive compiled during WWII, and acquired by Periscope Film. In this film, a German U-boat is shown being resupplied at sea by a Type XIV milkcow submarine. Torpedoes and food are transferred, along with diesel fuel. The U-boat then resumes its hunt for English merchant ships during the Battle of the Atlantic.
Note: Video is in German, however the footage is fascinating, even if you can't understand the language.
(1) "With the downfall of Germany, members of her underseas flet rise to the survace and on radio instructions from Berlin, procede to surrender to Allied naval authorities. The U-358 rides into Cape May, N.J., in the custody of a destroyer escort 'prize' crew. At Portsmouth, N.H., destroyer escorts convoy the U-805 into harbor. The Nazi crew is brought ashore still surly and impudent, only to be whisked off to Portsmouth Naval Prison. Back in ruined Bremen, British tommies discover pre-fabricated sections of submarines, parts of an assembly plan which was calculated to add hundreds of new subs to the German navy." scenes of ruins of Bremen sub shipyard, U-boat prisoners arrive in US., in Portsmouth, arogant captain unrepenitent.(2) Germans Surrender Among Ruins - "Berlin: Air Marshal Tedder, General Spaatz, Marshal Zhukoff and others receive the surrender of General Keitel, Admiral Friedberg and General Stumpf, which commits Nazi Germany to Allied control, ceases hostilities and ratifies the previous capitulations to General Eisenhower and General Montgomery. The Wreckage of Germany - R.A.F. saturation bombings of Hamburg have destroyed the huge ship yards and left all buildings absolutely gutted. Hamburg is ruined. And the question 'What of Berlin?' is now answered. All Nazi government buildings are totally ruined, as are the famous hotels and other buildings which lined her famous boulevards." scenes of Keitl surrenders to Zhukov in Berlin, Russians tour the gutted capital, pictures of destroyed Hamburg; (3) German Loot Discovered - "Reichsbank Cache - Yanks entering the world's largest salt mines at Merkers, Germany are startled to find one hundred tons of gold bullion, jewels, silver currency and priceless paintings by the masters, the cached loot of the Nazis." (4) In The Wake Of Victory - "Eminent people, long held in Nazi prison camps are found at a Villa in the Alps. They include Baroness Schussning, Fritz Thyssen, industrialist, Prince Leopold of Prussia, Anti-Nazi Pastor Niemacher, Lt. John Winant and Lord Lascelles, nephew of King George VI. In contrast at Magebarg, General Dietmars, Nazi broadcaster becomes a prisoner of the Yanks." (5) All Out Air War On Japan - "Aircraft factories near Nagasaki are bombed by B-29s from Guam. From Saipan, a fleet of B-29s pierce clouds of flak over Tokyo to plant tons of bombs on the Jap capital city. Homeward, many of the Superforts are forced down at Iwo Jima, where flak damage is seen to be severe." scenes of map and arial footage of airstrikes on Japan, damaged SuperFortress lands on Iwo Jima. (complete newsreel)
Although Kitty Hawk North Carolina would become home to the first manned flight of human kind, the Germans would take these physical parameters into a whole new realm. As the skies offered another battlefield in which to kill and mame, countries that did not embrace this new arena were quickly left behind. During the first world war, the Germans would gain an early edge over most of the Allies as concerned with WWI aircraft. Planes used during World War I became designed around the many German models, which would help the Allies win many later battles of the global war. There are many WWI planes that were important during the war although some played far greater roles than others.
The White Star Line was a British shipping company most famous for its ill fated flag ship the RMS Titanic and World War I sister ship, Britannic.
The White Star Line was originally founded in Liverpool in 1845 by John Pilkington and Henry Wilson. The company's initial focus was on the Australian gold mine trade. In the early 1850's if you had sound ships and ran the Australian route, it would almost be difficult to not succeed. In one month of 1853, no less than 32,000 "get rich quick" hopefuls left port in Liverpool bound or Australia to strike their fortunes in gold. Archived Photography of the White Star Line and Her Ships
She hit an iceberg and sank, in one of the most epic tragedies of all time. Nearly 100 years later tales of the RMS Titanic remains legendary. Perhaps the work of James Cameron and Leo Di Caprio can be credited for bringing the story of this ill-fated trip to mainstream popular culture. Or perhaps, even without a multi-billion dollar blockbuster our morbid human curiosities would still keep us entranced by this sunken piece of history. Diving the Titanic in Newfoundland
In both cases of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, the world war had created high unemployment and dissatisfied veterans. Fascism grew in Italy just as swiftly as Nazism in Germany out of extreme rightist preoccupations with nationalism and, in the case of Germany, racism. One aspect that differed between Fascism and Nazism was the extreme terror put forth by the Nazis against the Jews, however not so much lacking in Fascist Italy. In any case, the condition of the governments at the time made them easy targets for takeover, therefore allowing a new party to emerge that consisted of violent groups, thus ending in superior races that would wreak havoc on society.The Differences and Similarities of Fascism and Nazism
Sources
Pictures under Evolution of the German U-boat Fleet are screen captures from 1940 video of U-boat being refueled and replenished.
Madden, Paul. "Germany Launches Forst U-boat." Great Events. Print.
She hit an iceberg and sank, in one of the most epic tragedies of all time. Nearly 100 years later tales of the RMS Titanic remains legendary. Perhaps the work of James Cameron and Leo Di Caprio can be credited for bringing the story of this ill-fated trip to mainstream popular culture. Or perhaps, even without a multi-billion dollar blockbuster our morbid human curiosities would still keep us entranced by this sunken piece of history.
On occasion, I do step out of the office and onto a luxurious yacht owned by a friend of my fiance. It wasn't a research trip, more a relaxing opportunity for me to bond with the sea life in open water.
I took a bit of footage and photographs and compiled them into this video with music composed by my dear friend and composer Mary Gunderson. The music is called Elisha's Destiny, Mary's newest composition.
If you haven't noticed already, Mary's been a veteran on Ancient Digger for quite a while. I was one of the first to receive Mary and Shaun's CD "Infinite Garden" which I listen to almost everyday while I'm writing.
“Infinite Garden” is a provocative and rousing rendition of musical brilliance. Your soul travels across oceans and to distant lands all while you take in the enchantment of the melodies. The combination of gifted musicians and perfectly formed melodic sounds make Infinite Garden a revolutionary piece of artistry.Yes, I did say that!
This is not a review, but a heartfelt thankyou to Mary Gunderson and Shaun Poore for providing me many relaxing moments while I work tirelessly towards my degree.
My mom and stepfather have a home right on the water in Lake Michigan, so imagine their surprise to be right in the middle of some good old fashion archaeology, with a huge chunk of missing history. The 112 year old shipwreck discovered was the result of a century old storm in Lake Michigan.
The discovery of the L.R. Doty, a 300 foot-long steamship, is a monumental event for Brendon Baillod, the president of the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association. The 112 year old ship is the largest wooden boat unaccounted for and was carrying corn from South Chicago to Ontario, Canada in October 1898. The boat disappeared after 30 foot waves combined with heavy winds engulfed the entire ship.
The White Star Line was a British shipping company most famous for its ill fated flag ship the RMS Titanic and World War I sister ship, Britannic.
The White Star Line was originally founded in Liverpool in 1845 by John Pilkington and Henry Wilson. The company's initial focus was on the Australian gold mine trade. In the early 1850's if you had sound ships and ran the Australian route, it would almost be difficult to not succeed. In one month of 1853, no less than 32,000 "get rich quick" hopefuls left port in Liverpool bound or Australia to strike their fortunes in gold. Australia's colony population jumped from 430,000 to 1.7 million in just 3 years after gold was discovered.
Plunging into the waters off Alexandria Tuesday, divers explored the submerged ruins of a palace and temple complex from which Cleopatra ruled, swimming over heaps of limestone blocks hammered into the sea by earthquakes and tsunamis more than 1,600 years ago.
The international team is painstakingly excavating one of the richest underwater archaeological sites in the world and retrieving stunning artifacts from the last dynasty to rule over ancient Egypt before the Roman Empire annexed it in 30 B.C.
The Institute of Maritime History and the Lighthouse Archaeology Maritime Program recently completed an sonar survey of the waters in front of Mt. Vernon, George Washington's home. Partering with the archaeology department at Mount Vernon, we began the first exploration of a presidential maritime landscape.
This video could not be more fun with popular tunes by James Brown, mixed with a slide show of the archaeologists working on the project and kicking back a bit. Who knew that archaeology could be so fun? Oh, I did, I did!
I absolutely love being a history and travel blogger, as it allows me to meet individuals I would never get the chance to on an everyday basis. In the past two days, two very special sites have landed themselves on the Ancient Digger Blogroll.
The first of these special additions is Border Jumpers, which was an idea from the minds of two very special individuals. You can follow Bernard Pollack and Danielle Nierenberg as they travel in Africa to meet with farmers, activists, non-governmental organization (NGOs), the funding and donor communities, and local, regional, and international press. Their goal is educate the masses about workers and residents and their living conditions, as well as the subject of poverty, and how people in Africa are combating that issue.
Here's an excerpt from their latest post:
We’ve taken some long bus rides in Africa. We spent eight bumpy hours on a bus from Nairobi to Arusha and another eight from Arusha to Dar Es Salaam.
The longest so far, though, has been between Kigali, Rwanda and Kampala, Uganda. As usual, we were looking out the window, admiring the crops growing by the side of the road, desperately trying not to think about how we had to pee, and trying not to panic about how fast our bus driver was maneuvering between other buses, cattle, and street vendors hawking roasted corn, bananas, and pineapples on the side of the road.
Our second new addition is Boatswain and Bateremia . This particular site is run by Jared Wasser and focuses on maritime and naval history,with the added addition of medicine, since Jared is a student of medicine. Together, the two subjects merge to create a fascinating and well written site about the history of maritime medicine.
Here's an excerpt from his latest post:
Rice. One of the most prominent and relied-upon staples, cooked in any variety of dishes the world over, and a vital source of nutrition for millions of people on our planet. I love it; one of my favorite foods that, at times, it seems I just cannot get enough of. However, this seemingly innocuous ellipsoid was, at one point, the source of an illness that ravaged a large portion of the Royal Fleet in the 18th and 19th centuries. One arguably more virulent and more mysterious than that of even the famous scurvy. The disease I speak of is called beriberi; an illness which killed many sailors in the age of sail, and perplexed physicians and surgeons for around a century.
I've never set my sites sights on studying nautical archaeology, but I've always had interest in lost cities, and of course, Atlantis. However, I was really surprised that I missed this story of an underground city found in the Caribbean pre-dating the Egyptian pyramids, at Giza. I might have briefly seen a snippet in the news, but I was thrilled once again to have stumbled upon this discovery.
The site was found last year using satellite imagery, and the project's leader has chosen to be left anonymous. I can understand their concern.
During the 20th century, steel and aluminum were at a minimum, so Geoffrey Pyke thought of an innovative, and yet somewhat bizarre material for constructing aircrafts for the war. NickFord brings us the story of this revolutionary man that had a vision, although it may have never materialized.
During the Second World War the hard pressed British authorities were willing to consider a wide range of eccentric schemes that might give them the edge in battle. One of these ideas was for an enormous aircraft carrier made of ice. The idea came from an English eccentric with the name Geoffrey Pyke. By the 1930s Pyke already had a colorful career.
Definition: An Ancient Digger is anyone, not just an archaeologist, who digs for knowledge, truth, reason, science and education, and strives to share that knowledge with everyone.
North Carolina would become home to the 
, a Dutch inventor working for the English Royal Navy, tested the first submarine on the Thames River in England. Between 1620 and 1624 Drebbel successfully built and tested two more submarines, each one bigger than the last.
was asked to design a submarine for the government, incorporating all aspects of the more modern vessels. The Brandtaucher weighed 70,000 pounds, was 28 feet long, and was powered by two sailors turning a tread wheel. Bauer had previously created a model of a larger scale submarine that proved to be functional, however the government refused to accept the design. Tanks of sea water would be filled before submersion, allowing the vessel to stay under the water longer. Since the government chosr to deter from this design, the submarine would be flooded with water, instead of just a few tanks to keep it stable. Brandtaucher sank during a test drive; however Bauer still became instrumental in the development of the English and Russian submarine programs. John Holland later invented electric engines, horizontal rudders, and water ballasts.
would make a lasting impression on the outcome of the war, and change the opinions of the English, Russians, French, and Americans.
funded the new submarine fleet, built by Spanish engineer Raymond Lorenzo d’Equevilley-Monjustin. Monjustin came to Krupp in 1901 with the grandiose idea for double hulled submarines, capable of long range attacks. Originally, Krupp had inquired about the funding from Tirpitz, however Tirpitz believed the vessels would never accomplish a surface vessel attack. How wrong he would be.
was still quite hesitant in investing money in a vessel not proven in combat.
