A magnificent wreck, a half mile deeper than Titanic and dozens have visited... Come on in!!

[WarGamer]

So yeah... it's 1941 and within days of her launch... the German battleship Bismarck is sunk in the north Atlantic.

https://www.kbismarck.com/wreck.html




She stayed hidden until 1989 when Robert Ballard (yes, THAT Robert Ballard of Titanic fame) found her lying in the silt, right side up and in an AMAZING state at OVER 15,000 feet or 3 miles deep.

The teak decks, intact... cannons and AA guns, intact and pointing to the sky. Paint is still intact so the metal isn't degrading like the Titanic.

A Bright Swastika painted on the deck, clearly visible.



Not even that much visible battle damage... of course the main turrets, formerly home of 15" cannon had fallen off during the long descent...

It's been the subject of numerous expeditions and several films have been made.

"The Federal Republic of Germany considers itself the owner of the former sovereign Battleship Bismarck. Diving excursions to the interior of the wreck as well as recovery attempts require consent of the Federal Government. This has been categorically denied in other cases of sunken ships of the World Wars, because one must expect to find remains of the dead in the wreck. The Federal Republic feels it is its duty to protect the seamen who went to their death in the sinking of the ship. Following international customs, we view the wreck of the Bismarck as a seamen's burial site that must be accorded proper respect."

[Hekate]

1. And a pop-song arose from the deeps...

Sink the Bismarck

In May of nineteen forty-one the war had just begun
The Germans had the biggest ship, they had the biggest guns
The Bismarck was the fastest ship that ever sailed the sea
On her deck were guns as big as steers and shells as big as trees
Out of the cold and foggy night came the British ship, the Hood
And every British seaman, he knew and understood
They had to sink the Bismarck, the terror of the sea
Stop those guns as big as steers and those shells as big as trees

[WarGamer]

2. Took a beating and it's still thought she only sank when the crew detonated scuttling charges.

Upon examination they found very few punctures in the hull below the water line.

[msongs]

3. oh look, used a well built and safety tested diving device. whatta thought nt