NOAA will lead a research expedition July 7-26 to study the wrecks ofthree German submarines sunk by U.S. forces in 1942 off the coast ofNorth Carolina during the Battle of the Atlantic.
"This expedition is the first part of a larger multi-year project toresearch and document a number of historically significant shipwreckstragically lost during World War II, including U.S. and British navalvessels and merchant marine vessels," said David W. Alberg,expedition leader and superintendent of USS Monitor National MarineSanctuary. "The information collected during this expedition will becrucial to efforts to preserve these historic sites."
During the expedition, researchers will survey and photograph visiblesections of the three submarines, U-352, U-85 and U-701 usingnon-invasive methods. The survey team will also study marine lifefound at the sites. Consistent with U.S. and international policy,the submarine wreck sites are considered war graves and will not bedisturbed during the expedition.NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is conducting the surveyin partnership with the Minerals Management Service, National ParkService, state of North Carolina, East Carolina University and theUniversity of North Carolina Coastal Studies Institute, who are allproviding technical expertise and logistical support for the expedition.
The sunken German U-boats are located in an area known as the"Graveyard of the Atlantic," which encompasses shipwrecks from bothsides of the Battle of the Atlantic at recreational diving depths(less than 130 feet). The wrecks are popular dive sites off the OuterBanks of North Carolina.
Two of the U-boats, U-352 and U-85, have been severely impacted bysalvage operators and souvenir hunters since their discovery morethan three decades ago. U-701 is relatively intact but also has begunto show signs of damage from illegal salvage attempts. The sub wasdiscovered by recreational divers in 1989 before being covered bysand and rediscovered in 2004.
Phase two of the project, scheduled for summer 2009, will investigateprimarily the Allied wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Some ofthe wrecks lie at recreational diving depths, while many are locatedin deeper waters where they remain untouched and in relatively good condition.
Source: NOAA Headquarters