Mystery of the WWI U-Boat and the ‘sea monster’ solved
How a bungling German captain sank his own vessel after demanding a heater in his cabin – and then blamed the leak on a creature from the deep
Daily Mail – It looks as if the secrets of UB-85 may finally be revealed. Last week it was announced by energy firm Scottish Power that engineers laying undersea cables had discovered the wreck of a U-boat lying close to the last position of UB-85. Although no photograph of the submarine has been taken, a remarkably clear sonar image certainly shows the unmistakable form of the 180ft craft lying 340 ft below the surface. keep reading
Dr Innes McCartney, a historian, nautical archaeologist and honorary research fellow at Bournemouth University, said, “We are certainly closer to solving the so-called mystery of UB-85 and the reason behind its sinking – whether common mechanical failure or something that is less easily explained.” (from)
Vigée Le Brun painting joins exhibition centred on extraordinary life of the woman famed for being Nelson’s mistress – A voluptuous portrait of Emma Hamilton, commissioned by her husband and later bought by her lover Lord Nelson to save it from the shame of a public sale, is to be displayed in a major exhibition on her extraordinary life. keep reading
Robert Smalls (April 5, 1839 – February 23, 1915) was an enslaved African American who, during and after the American Civil War, gained freedom and became a ship’s pilot, sea captain, and politician.
He freed himself, his crew and their families from slavery on May 13, 1862, by commandeering a Confederate transport ship, CSS Planter, in Charleston harbor, and sailing it from Confederate-controlled waters to the U.S. blockade. His example and persuasion helped convince President Lincoln to accept African-American soldiers into the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy.
During World War II, Camp Robert Smalls was established as a sub-facility of the Great Lakes Naval Training Center to train black sailors (in the at-the-time segregated US Navy)
The Navy began enlisting Negro seamen on June 1, 1942, and the first class of 277 enlistees began training at Camp Robert Smalls later that month. Of that class, 222 completed the training successfully on September 3, 1942, and 102 of those graduates were chosen to continue on with specialized training. (from)
QUINCY, Mass. — Something wicked this way has come. Horror entrepreneur Jason Egan opened Ghost Ship Harbor, turning the USS Salem museum ship into a 60,000-square-foot haunted house.
This time, however, Egan thinks he’s outdone himself. The immersive Ghost Ship Harbor installation is based on the au courant Zombie plague trend as espoused in the movie “28 Days Later,” or the book-turned-film “World War Z.” The idea is that the ship is the only safe place left, but, as usual, an “infected” has plodded aboard and carnage ensues. keep reading
Originally built from the remains of a whaling vessel, Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon is a shack situated on the corner of Jack London Square in Oakland, California. It has been in continuous operation since 1883. And, frankly, it looks like it. keep reading
There’s only one Navy ship left that has sunk an enemy vessel: the ancient USS Constitution. keep reading
In November 1916, John Krasnodemski of Wausau, Wisconsin filed a patent for a modern version of a weapon that had its roots in the late 17th century? — A pistol-sword.
Yes, a sword that could fire bullets. keep reading