Naval History Forums

Deep Ocean Expeditions is accepting bookings for a 12-day, Summer 2012 expedition to the wreck of the battleship Bismarck. This will be the first exploration of the site in six years.

http://www.deepoceanexpeditions.com/bis ... tions.html

Go for it guys! 50 grand for the trip of a lifetime!

But..OMG!!! They have a picture of the SCHARNHORST (as completed) on their "Mighty Bismarck" page!!

Jose....I think you better give 'em a call.....

I think we already let them known about the Scharnhorst picture many years ago, but I guess they never changed it.

time to start playing the mega millions. I tell ya If I had the $50,000 I would be there in a heart beat.

I'd be there in less than a heartbeat! Trip of a lifetime! Those mir's have seen so much!

I would hope that this expedition is purely for research purposes and not the collection of ''souveneers'' and looting of what is a war grave.

I think it's fairly obvious it is about making money, but still a great opportunity. I'm afraid it's beyond my means, but it would sure be a great way to learn more about Bismarck's final battle. The lectures and mixing with knowledgeable people alone would be worthwhile.

I don't think anyone is permitted to remove artifacts, are they? In any case this is not the first expedition by this company and I don't recall any complaints of that nature.

Does the German Federal Government, who I believe now owns the wreck, have to give permission for these expeditions to happen?

I think Bismarck should be left in peace. It's the same with the RMS Titanic, there have been many other expeditions, what else is there to learn? It's a war grave and should be left alone.
and yes I do think that the German Gov't has to give the go-ahead. I presume thaey have if the expedition has already been anounced?

Why arn't they doing the expedition in 2011 for the 70th anniversary instead of 2012?

celticmarine10 wrote:... It's a war grave and should be left alone. ...

Why should one leave them alone? In general visting wargraves is a good thing and if one can learn more about the times during such a visit it's even better. About Bismarck in particular there are still a great many unanswered questoins and such expeditions could potentially answer some of them.

I think there is a difference between visiting a cemetry to pay respects at the graveside and going along to the cemetry under cover of darkness to dig up graves for souveneers. The latter is a criminal offence in England under a sixteenth century law, which was used a couple of years ago for the first time since the 1800's against a cretin who dug up the grave of a huntsman to steal the bones.

I think much of this reasoning applies to maritime sunken war graves - pay respects yes, but don't touch or interfere.

Maybe its me but I see nothing wrong with an expedition to a sunken warship for research purposes as long as nothing is disturbed and it is done in a respectful manner. People visit battlefields to gain knowledge of what transpired. I would put this in the same category!

Exactly.

As far as I know nothing has been removed from the wreck so far.
They left a couple of commemorative plaques in 2001-2002.