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.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

U.S. Firm Finds 2nd Silver-Laden British Shipwreck

From the October 11, 2011, Reuters.Tampa, Florida's Odyssey Marine Exploration found the North Atlantic wreck of the SS Mantola at  8,250 feet, 110 miles from the site of the SS Gairsoppa shipwreck.

It was sunk February 9, 1917, torpedoed by a German U-boat, carrying 600,000 ounces of silver worth some $18 million today.

The Gairsoppa was sunk February 17, 1941, during World War II and is 15,510 feet deep, carrying 7 million ounces of silver.  This is the largest-known cargo of precious metal ever discovered. 

The company plans to salvage both sites in 2012, using remote operated submersibles.  The company gets to keep 80% of whatever they recover.

I Know Some Folks Who Are Going to Be Mighty Rich.  --GreGen

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