Aircraft of World War II - Warbird Forums

Graf Zeppelin may have been found

WW2 General Discuss Graf Zeppelin may have been found in the World War II - General forums; SimHQ Forums: OT: wreck of Graf Zeppelin located? Two weeks ago, on the 12th of July 2006, a ship belonging ...


Go Back   Aircraft of World War II - Warbird Forums > World War II - General > WW2 General

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 07-26-2006, 04:21 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Smokey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 533
Graf Zeppelin may have been found

SimHQ Forums: OT: wreck of Graf Zeppelin located?

Two weeks ago, on the 12th of July 2006, a ship belonging to Petrobaltic (a Polish oil company) found a 265 m. long wreck close to the port of Łeba which may be the Graf Zeppelin

Quote:
As the end of World War II neared, the roughly completed carrier was scuttled in shallow water at Stettin (now Szczecin) on 25 April 1945, just before the Red Army captured the city. After Germany's surrender, though, its history and fate is unclear. According to the terms of the Allied Tripartite Commission, a "Category C" ship (damaged or scuttled) should have been destroyed or sunk in deep water by 15 August 1946. Instead, the Russians decided to repair the damaged ship. It was refloated in March, 1946. The last known photo of the carrier shows it leaving Swinemuende (now Swinoujscie on 7 April 1947 (see picture). The photo appears to show the carrier deck loaded with various containers, boxes and construction elements, hence the supposition that it was probably used to carry looted factory equipment from Poland and Germany to the Soviet Union.

For many years no other information about the ship's fate was available. There was some speculation that it was very unlikely that the hull made it to Leningrad, as it was argued that the arrival of such a large and unusual vessel would have been noticed by Western intelligence services. This assumption seemed to imply that the hull was lost at sea during transfer between Swinemuende and Leningrad. One account concluded that it struck a mine north of Rügen on 15 August 1947, but Rügen, west of Swinemuende, is not on the sailing route to Leningrad. Further north, in the Gulf of Finland, a heavily-mined area difficult for Western observers to monitor, seemed more likely.

After the opening of the Soviet archives, new light was shed on the mystery. It appears that the carrier was towed to Leningrad. There, after unloading, it was designated as "PO-101" (Floating Base Number 101). The Russians hoped that the carrier could be repaired in Leningrad's shipyards (those in Szczecin were destroyed). When this proved impractical, the ship was towed out to sea, back to the Swinemuende area. There, on 16 August 1947, it was used as a practice target for Soviet ships and aircraft. Allegedly, the Soviets installed aerial bombs on the flight deck, in hangars and even inside the funnels (to simulate a load of combat munitions), and then dropped bombs from aircraft, fired shells, and shot torpedoes into it. This assault would both comply with the Tripartite mandate (albeit late) and provide the Soviets with experience in sinking an aircraft carrier. By this point, the Cold War had well begun, and the Soviets were well aware of the large numbers and central importance of aircraft carriers in the US Navy, which in the event of an actual war between the Soviet Union and America would be targets of high strategic importance. Hence, experience in sinking carriers by aircraft was much more valuable in 1947 than before 1945. After being hit by 24 bombs and projectiles, the ship did not sink and had to be finished off by torpedoes. The exact position of the wreck was unknown for decades. On 12 July 2006 a ship belonging to Petrobaltic (a Polish oil company) found a 265 m. long wreck close to the port of Łeba which probably is the Graf Zeppelin. [1]
From

German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

MaritimeQuest - Graf Zeppelin
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 01_graf_zeppelin.jpg (117.8 KB, 141 views)
File Type: jpg 02_graf_zeppelin.jpg (130.6 KB, 140 views)
File Type: jpg 03_graf_zeppelin.jpg (105.4 KB, 136 views)

Last edited by Smokey : 07-26-2006 at 04:28 PM.
Smokey is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2006, 06:03 AM   #2
Der Crewchief
 
DerAdlerIstGelandet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 28,557
Country:
Awesome that would be great if they found it!
__________________

US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006

Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes:

fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"

"wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2"

"ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life"
DerAdlerIstGelandet is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2006, 02:56 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Smokey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 533
A guy claims that

Quote:
Btw, the Navy confirmed - it is the wreck of Graf Zeppelin
SimHQ Forums: OT: wreck of Graf Zeppelin located?
Smokey is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2006, 03:43 PM   #4
v2
Senior Member
 
v2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cracow
Posts: 2,955
Country:
Send a message via Skype™ to v2
Graf Zeppelin in the sonar pics...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg gz1.jpg (16.9 KB, 123 views)
File Type: jpg gz2.jpg (13.8 KB, 122 views)
File Type: jpg gz3.jpg (17.2 KB, 119 views)
File Type: jpg gz4.jpg (14.7 KB, 121 views)
File Type: jpg gz6.jpg (14.7 KB, 121 views)
File Type: jpg gz7.jpg (20.0 KB, 120 views)
File Type: jpg gz8.jpg (21.0 KB, 119 views)
__________________

"A good fighter pilot, like a good boxer, should have a knockout punch..... You will find one attack you prefer to all others. Work on it till you can do it to perfection... then use it whenever possible."
- Captain Reade Tilley, USAAF 7 Victories, WW-II -
v2 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2006, 03:52 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Hunter368's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 2,199
Country:
Very cool
__________________

In the ocean of the military, reflective of all distinguished pilots, an honored Buddhist person.
Hunter368 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2006, 05:11 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Gnomey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK (atm Pretoria, South Africa)
Posts: 10,816
Country:
Send a message via AIM to Gnomey Send a message via MSN to Gnomey
Yep, the sonar looks about right as well so it could well be her I guess we will find out soon enough.
__________________


"Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
Sir Winston Churchill

"To him the people of the world largely owe the Freedom and liberties they enjoy today"
Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London


Moderator WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum
Gnomey is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2006, 03:16 AM   #7
v2
Senior Member
 
v2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cracow
Posts: 2,955
Country:
Send a message via Skype™ to v2
Graf Zeppelin- model
Attached Images
File Type: jpg gz.jpg (961.4 KB, 123 views)
__________________

"A good fighter pilot, like a good boxer, should have a knockout punch..... You will find one attack you prefer to all others. Work on it till you can do it to perfection... then use it whenever possible."
- Captain Reade Tilley, USAAF 7 Victories, WW-II -
v2 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2006, 04:08 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
mosquitoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Saffron Walden/Sheffield
Posts: 3,001
Country:
Send a message via MSN to mosquitoman
Nice! what scale is it?
__________________

When you realise that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually an oncoming train, you know it's time to run for your life
mosquitoman is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2006, 08:31 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
loomaluftwaffe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,848
Country:
nice, it is good to see 109s and Stukas flying off the carriers for a change
__________________


"The German Luftwaffe always fought without any reserves. This is also the reason why we have pilots with extremely high numbers of victories."
- General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland"


loomaluftwaffe is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2006, 04:00 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Henk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: George - South Africa
Posts: 2,369
Country:
Send a message via MSN to Henk
Cool I would love some pictures of the wreck.
__________________


The ultimate revolution in aircraft designs during WW2
Henk is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2006, 04:40 PM   #11
Der Crewchief
 
DerAdlerIstGelandet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 28,557
Country:
Yeah I hope they post some of the wreck soon.

It would be really neat if they would raise it and turn it into a museum over here in Germany.
__________________

US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006

Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes:

fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"

"wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2"

"ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life"
DerAdlerIstGelandet is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2006, 06:38 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Henk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: George - South Africa
Posts: 2,369
Country:
Send a message via MSN to Henk
Yes that would be great.
__________________


The ultimate revolution in aircraft designs during WW2
Henk is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2006, 11:34 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Queensland
Posts: 1,244
Country:
I think give it a version of the Horton 229 flying off the decks as a naval fighter and we could see an interesting result. Regardless it is fascinating. There is a little bit of a question- if the wreck is WW2 and not Graf Zeppelin then who or what is it? It certainly does seem the right size, and shape. From memory Graf Zeppelin was a battleship being converted into an aircraft carrier. Therefore we can't actually be totally sure how she would have performed in any weather.
HealzDevo is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2006, 10:49 AM   #14
Der Crewchief
 
DerAdlerIstGelandet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 28,557
Country:
It has been confirmed as the wreck of the GZ. I cant wait till someone goes down there though and takes some pics of it. She was a beautiful ship and I would love too see what she looks like now.
__________________

US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006

Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes:

fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"

"wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2"

"ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life"
DerAdlerIstGelandet is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2006, 04:37 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Henk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: George - South Africa
Posts: 2,369
Country:
Send a message via MSN to Henk
Great news, can also not wait to see some pics of the wreck.
__________________


The ultimate revolution in aircraft designs during WW2
Henk is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Spurl this Post!Reddit! Wong this Post!
Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pieces Horsa found at Arnhem Jeroen Aircraft Requests 2 01-03-2008 02:47 AM
What If...? cheddar cheese Aviation 537 05-28-2006 03:53 PM
1944 MIA 23rd FG airman found syscom3 Aviation 6 04-14-2006 08:52 AM
German Battleships and convoy hunting. carpenoctem1689 WW2 General 307 03-01-2006 05:03 PM
Hitler and Stalin Soren WW2 General 60 09-05-2005 02:15 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:04 PM.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.1.0
   

AVIATION TOP 100 - www.avitop.com Avitop.com


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55