On Thursday afternoon, as the clouds were growing larger and more ominous on the horizon, we dropped the ROV off the coast of Cape Hatteras. Before the rising waves and looming squalls forced the recall of the ROV, we discovered a new ship of interest. The condition was such that further research and information is needed to identify the ship and its period.
The evening last night was VERY rough; there were a few times I thought I was going to roll right out of the bunk and a few times I think I went airborne.
But in spite of the conditions, the Nancy Foster continued collecting multibeam sonar scans to look for more areas to investigate. As NOAA can explain it better than I, check out their website to learn more about multibeam sonar scanning and to see a diagram of how it works.
Finding another target of interest using these scans, the ROV was once again deployed with magnificent results. The data is still being analysed so I can't post anything definitive.
But on a personally-professional note, I see a really cool school program here!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Day We've Been Waiting For!
We are currently about thirty minutes from the target site south-east of Hatteras. Once there, they'll be doing survey work for about an hour before sending out the ROV. I'm lucky in that I have the video camera, so I get to watch everything. So this is what it means to have a press pass!
It appears that the weather is perfect and hopes are high that we'll find U-756. If we are successful, we will then move to two locations approximately four miles apart where the Bluefields was reported to have gone down.
Not sure how much I'll be able to post in the next two days as I'll be busy capturing images, but can't wait to see what we find.
It appears that the weather is perfect and hopes are high that we'll find U-756. If we are successful, we will then move to two locations approximately four miles apart where the Bluefields was reported to have gone down.
Not sure how much I'll be able to post in the next two days as I'll be busy capturing images, but can't wait to see what we find.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
August 5 - A Day at Sea
As a postcard would say, "Greetings from 100 or so miles off the Eastern Shore." Today's weather has been beautiful, windy and warm. As I'm sitting in the dry lab aboard the Nancy Foster, it feels like the seas have also picked up a bit. Earlier today we saw three whales, one came within feet of the ship. As the internet connection is sporadic at best, I'll have to post pictures when I return. Later in the afternoon, we saw a porpoise off the stern.
Yesterday's excitement included the fire and abandon ship drills. Everyone had to put on their survival suits, not an easy task on a rocking boat when the temperatures are in the upper 80s. In the afternoon, we were crossing the main shipping lane into New York when we saw a huge cargo ship; it appeared enormous yet we were still three miles away. Again, pictures will have to come later.
Our expected time of arrival on site is around 1:00 tomorrow afternoon. At that time, we'll go from a laid-back cruise to a commotion of activity as the ROV is lowered and the exploration begins. Not sure when I'll be able to post, but I will try to do so as soon as possible. But I do promise to come back with some awesome pictures and video.
Yesterday's excitement included the fire and abandon ship drills. Everyone had to put on their survival suits, not an easy task on a rocking boat when the temperatures are in the upper 80s. In the afternoon, we were crossing the main shipping lane into New York when we saw a huge cargo ship; it appeared enormous yet we were still three miles away. Again, pictures will have to come later.
Our expected time of arrival on site is around 1:00 tomorrow afternoon. At that time, we'll go from a laid-back cruise to a commotion of activity as the ROV is lowered and the exploration begins. Not sure when I'll be able to post, but I will try to do so as soon as possible. But I do promise to come back with some awesome pictures and video.
Monday, August 3, 2009
A Day of Travel
After waiting in line at Patrick Henry Airport (Newport News-Williamsburg Airport for the non-natives) I caught my flight to Boston with about 15 minutes to spare; just enough time to buy a cup of coffee to get me going. With a 2 1/2 hour layover at Logan International before catching the bus to Woods Hole, I decided to visit the 9-11 Memorial. It is an eerily beautiful structure of glass and shadows. The reality and tragedy of the event was emphasized by the fact that I had arrived at the same time of morning as the second plane had taken off from Logan and was standing at the Memorial at the same time as when the jets struck the Towers.
At 10:30 a.m., I caught the Peter Pan bus to Woods Hole. I can't recommend them enough. What more can you ask for than Wi-Fi on a bus! Nothing like posting from the road, literally.
Be sure to check back for some background information on U-576 and the battle that ensued on July 15, 1942.
A Little More History
On July 14, 1942, Convoy KS-520 left Hampton Roads sailing south to Key West. On the following day, off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, the convoy was attacked by German U-576. The first ship struck was the American freighter Chilore.
Hit below the waterline, she sailed toward shallow water in hopes of anchoring. Instead of reaching safety, she sailed directly into a defensive U.S. minefield. Striking two mines, the Chilore sustained additional damage and was abandoned by the majority of her crew. She was towed to Hatteras Inlet where she was beached. Several weeks later, while being towed to Norfolk, the Chilore sank near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
The second ship struck that day was the Panamanian tanker J.A. Mowinkel. Joining the Chilore in leaving the convoy for shallow waters, the J.A. Mowinkel also struck a mine. She was eventually towed to Baltimore, and later New York where she was repaired and returned to service.
The last convoy ship struck by the U-576 was the Nicaraguan freighter Bluefields. Struck by the third torpedo fired, the Bluefields sank, but not before all were able to abandon ship.
But U-576 did not continue on its deadly mission. The convoy struck back with American ship Unicoi ramming the U-boat while two U.S. navy VS-2 Kingfisher aircraft dropped depth charges. The U-576 sunk immediately, sending all forty-five aboard to a watery grave.
Hit below the waterline, she sailed toward shallow water in hopes of anchoring. Instead of reaching safety, she sailed directly into a defensive U.S. minefield. Striking two mines, the Chilore sustained additional damage and was abandoned by the majority of her crew. She was towed to Hatteras Inlet where she was beached. Several weeks later, while being towed to Norfolk, the Chilore sank near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
The second ship struck that day was the Panamanian tanker J.A. Mowinkel. Joining the Chilore in leaving the convoy for shallow waters, the J.A. Mowinkel also struck a mine. She was eventually towed to Baltimore, and later New York where she was repaired and returned to service.
The last convoy ship struck by the U-576 was the Nicaraguan freighter Bluefields. Struck by the third torpedo fired, the Bluefields sank, but not before all were able to abandon ship.
But U-576 did not continue on its deadly mission. The convoy struck back with American ship Unicoi ramming the U-boat while two U.S. navy VS-2 Kingfisher aircraft dropped depth charges. The U-576 sunk immediately, sending all forty-five aboard to a watery grave.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Preparing for the Adventure
I love my job! I don't say that in the "trying to convince myself" kind of way; I really do love my job! In my years at The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia, I have done some pretty cool things. Among the coolest are leading Elderhostel cruises on the Chesapeake Bay and "playing" maritime archaeologist when the USS Monitor's turret was recovered by NOAA and the US Navy and brought to the Museum in 2002. To learn more about the Monitor, visit The Mariners' Museum and The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary websites. But I digress. I am the Director of Education and Distance Learning Programs at The Mariners' Museum, but for the next week, I will be a member of the 2009 'Battle of the Atlantic' Remote Sensing Expedition crew.
Thousands of books have been written about the subject, but as a quick history review, the Battle of the Atlantic pitted German U-boats against Allied merchant ships during World War II. As U-boats patrolled the Atlantic and off the East Coast of the United States, shoreline communities went dark to eliminate the danger of back-lighting merchant ships and making them easy targets for German torpedoes. With huge losses of shipping and lives, Winston Churchill would state after the war, "The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril." And the losses were great on both sides.
During the month of August 2009, a number of institutions will participate in the 2009 'Battle of the Atlantic' Remote Sensing Expedition. We'll be approximately 30 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. The objectives of the program are to "conduct a range of remote sensing activities on shipwreck sites associated with the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II." The primary goal with be to investigate the wreck believed to be U-576 and two additional sites including USS YP-389 and the Bluefields.
In future posts, I'll be sharing more information about the history of these ships and the expedition itself. But for now, I need to begin packing to leave for Woods Hole on Monday. Once we are at sea, I've been told that we should have sporadic internet access, so I'm hoping to be able to post videos and pictures. If not, they will appear upon my return. So stay tuned for more!.
Thousands of books have been written about the subject, but as a quick history review, the Battle of the Atlantic pitted German U-boats against Allied merchant ships during World War II. As U-boats patrolled the Atlantic and off the East Coast of the United States, shoreline communities went dark to eliminate the danger of back-lighting merchant ships and making them easy targets for German torpedoes. With huge losses of shipping and lives, Winston Churchill would state after the war, "The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril." And the losses were great on both sides.
During the month of August 2009, a number of institutions will participate in the 2009 'Battle of the Atlantic' Remote Sensing Expedition. We'll be approximately 30 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. The objectives of the program are to "conduct a range of remote sensing activities on shipwreck sites associated with the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II." The primary goal with be to investigate the wreck believed to be U-576 and two additional sites including USS YP-389 and the Bluefields.
In future posts, I'll be sharing more information about the history of these ships and the expedition itself. But for now, I need to begin packing to leave for Woods Hole on Monday. Once we are at sea, I've been told that we should have sporadic internet access, so I'm hoping to be able to post videos and pictures. If not, they will appear upon my return. So stay tuned for more!.
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