The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

U-853-- Part 9: The Wreck

On 6 and 7 May 1945, Navy divers attempted to enter the wreck to recover the captain's safe and the papers within it, but failed.  Recreational divers first visited the site in 1953.  In 1960, a recreational diver brought up a body from the wreck.  This provoked admirals and clergy to petition the U.S. government for petitions on disturbing the dead.

The German crewman was buried with full military honors in Newport, Rhode Island.

As of 1998, two recreational divers had died from exploring the wreckage.  Stephen Hardick died in 2005 while filming the submarine.  He surfaces unconscious and could not be revived.  He was 60 years old and died as a result of saltwater drowning associated with poor according to the Rhode Island  Medical Examiner's office.

On October 26, 2022, a live depth charge was found near the wreckage by fishermen based out of Rhode Island.  It contained 267 pounds of TNT.

--GreGen


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