Check These Out: Buddy Finder | Videos | SpouseBUZZ | My Friend Network | News | Military Equipment


Military.com    Military.com Forums  Hop To Forum Categories  Military History  Hop To Forums  World War II    WW2 era IJN Battleship MUSASHI to be salvaged?!
Page 1 2 

Moderators: strobelvets, USNVet940
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
  Login/Join 
Member
Posted
For those of you who have always wanted to see a World War II-era superdreadnought battleship of the YAMATO class up close, this may be your chance. Still isn't this considered a desecration of a war grave, even if this was a ship that belonged to a former enemy back then?

From the Manila Bulletin newspaper website:

quote:


Swiss firm offers services to salvage Japanese warship
Negotiations under way between Japanese group and Swiss Global


Mar T. Supnad



Japanese battleship Musashi leaving Brunei in 1944 for the Battle of Leyte Gulf

SIBUYAN, Romblon — Negotiations are under way for the salvaging of a sunken, big Japanese warship in the Sibuyan Sea, it was reported.

This developed after the Switzerland-based Swiss Global Connect has offered to refloat the sunken Musashi warship, once the biggest and most powerful Japanese battleship that was sunk in the sea off this province during World War II.

In a letter to Toshihiko Suzuki, chief executive officer of AIPAC (Asian Countries and Islands Optical Fiber Communication Establishment and Philippines Properties in Asia) through Filipino businessman Antonio Datuin, Ashroff Gaffoor, director of Swiss Global, stated that his company is capable of salvaging the giant warship that was sunk on Oct. 24, 1944 when it was hit by a barrage of tornadoes and bombs unleashed by the Allied forces.



Musashi under attack at The Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 24 October 1944.

AIPAC, which reportedly has billions of euros amd dollars deposited in UBS Bank in Zurich, Switzerland, will provide the funds for the project to salvage the Musashi ship.

Suzuki’s group and Kiyoshi Goto, who represents the government of Japan, will work with the concerned Philippine government agencies on the proposed salvaging of Musashi.

The Romblon Homeowners and Cultural Association (ROCHAI), a foundation headed by its chairman, Gen. (retired) Dominador Resos, will be the project proponent.

Resos has been working for the group of Suzuki on the salvaging project. He said he is planning to convert the warship into a tourist attraction.

When refloated, the ship would be towed to the nearby Carabao Island where it would developed into some kind of a war museum...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Enssantor,
 
Posts: 1296 | Registered: Tue 18 October 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Experienced Member
Picture of scooter_mech
Posted Hide Post
I wonder if the sister ship Shinano which was converted to a carrier would be next. It was sunk by the submarine Archerfish just off the coast of Japan.
 
Posts: 6045 | Registered: Fri 09 September 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Member
Posted Hide Post
I have to wonder about the sanity of some people wanting to burn billions on something like this? My first question would be have they really done any peliminary dives on this wreck to see what kind of shape its in? As far as damage to the hull for being able to refloat it?
There was alot of torpedo and bomb damage to get this thing to sink in the first place. This is hard to believe.........
 
Posts: 1024 | Registered: Fri 05 October 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Experienced Member
Picture of nekron99
Posted Hide Post
 
Posts: 4942 | Registered: Sat 06 April 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Moderator
Military History

"Anytime, baby!"
Picture of USNVet940
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by JPope:
I have to wonder about the sanity of some people wanting to burn billions on something like this? My first question would be have they really done any peliminary dives on this wreck to see what kind of shape its in? As far as damage to the hull for being able to refloat it?
There was alot of torpedo and bomb damage to get this thing to sink in the first place. This is hard to believe.........


My thoughts exactly. Considering the sheer size of the ship, that it absorbed at least 17 bombs and 19 torpedoes (by most accounts), and has been sitting on the bottom at a depth of over 4000 feet for 64 years, I've got to wonder what the hell they're smoking in Switzerland. Whisper
 
Posts: 3392 | Registered: Mon 08 October 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Experienced Member
Picture of scooter_mech
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by USNVet940:
quote:
Originally posted by JPope:
I have to wonder about the sanity of some people wanting to burn billions on something like this? My first question would be have they really done any peliminary dives on this wreck to see what kind of shape its in? As far as damage to the hull for being able to refloat it?
There was alot of torpedo and bomb damage to get this thing to sink in the first place. This is hard to believe.........


My thoughts exactly. Considering the sheer size of the ship, that it absorbed at least 17 bombs and 19 torpedoes (by most accounts), and has been sitting on the bottom at a depth of over 4000 feet for 64 years, I've got to wonder what the hell they're smoking in Switzerland. Whisper


Of the three Yamato class ships launched I would think that Shinano would be the best candidate for salvage. Musashi was extensivly damaged by both bombs and torpedoes. Yamato was blasted in half when her magazines exploded. Shinano was hit by only four torpedoes. The hull should be intact. She sank because of the lack of experience of her crew and the fact that all her water tight doors were not yet installed. She was, by far, the largest carrier constructed during the war.
 
Posts: 6045 | Registered: Fri 09 September 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Member
Posted Hide Post
All right Nekron! I thought of that when I first read the posting. I've got several DVDs from the TV show I used to watch with my sons, now my grandsons. I also have one of those sitting on my model ship shelf.
I agree I think the Shinano would be a more likely candidate to try and raise.
 
Posts: 1024 | Registered: Fri 05 October 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
New Member
Posted Hide Post
Didnt the US try something like this was a certain Russian Submarine that WASNT all blown to bits and that turned out real well didnt it. As it would be great to see done, I dont see it happening.

I havent even been about to see any of OUR US battleships yet. Only the Yorktown and the other ships there in Charlston SC.
 
Posts: 34 | Registered: Sat 26 July 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Experienced Member
Posted Hide Post
The US didn't raise the entire submarine. If I remember correctly, we raised most of the missile compartment only. That Russian sub sank and was crushed by the depth.
And, it woud be a lot easier to raise a 7,500(?) ton sub than a 60-70,000+ ton battleship.

BTW, the USS North Carloina is in Wilmington, NC.
 
Posts: 5106 | Registered: Fri 27 September 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Experienced Member
Picture of scooter_mech
Posted Hide Post
Gumby is reffering to Project Jennifer. This was a Top Secret operation run by the CIA to raise the Soviet submarine K-129. The vessel used to raise the sub was the Hughes Glomar Explorer.
When K-129 was discovered on the ocean floor it was in two pieces. The plan was to raise the forward piece. Part way to the surface, the section of the sub broke again leaving apx 40 ft. section to be recovered. The remainder fell back to the ocean floor.
The remains of six Soviet crewmen were recovered in the section brought to the surface and were given a memorial service and buried at sea with military honors.
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Jennifer"

Based on the above, it would seem difficult, if not impossible to raise a 63,000+ ton vessel from the ocean. Of course if one were to fill the battleship with ping pong balls it would pop right up to the surface! Big Grin
 
Posts: 6045 | Registered: Fri 09 September 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Moderator
Military History

"Anytime, baby!"
Picture of USNVet940
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by s******_mech:
Gumby is reffering to Project Jennifer. This was a Top Secret operation run by the CIA to raise the Soviet submarine K-129. The vessel used to raise the sub was the Hughes Glomar Explorer.
When K-129 was discovered on the ocean floor it was in two pieces. The plan was to raise the forward piece. Part way to the surface, the section of the sub broke again leaving apx 40 ft. section to be recovered. The remainder fell back to the ocean floor.
The remains of six Soviet crewmen were recovered in the section brought to the surface and were given a memorial service and buried at sea with military honors.
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Jennifer"

Based on the above, it would seem difficult, if not impossible to raise a 63,000+ ton vessel from the ocean. Of course if one were to fill the battleship with ping pong balls it would pop right up to the surface! Big Grin


Hell, they raised the Titanic in the movies; let's give the Hollyweirdo's a shot at it and see how long they can hold their breaths! Big Grin
 
Posts: 3392 | Registered: Mon 08 October 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Member
Picture of AFLogDog
Posted Hide Post
I read about this on another forum - and thought the Musashi was pretty intact too... but I was wrong. She suffered a massive explosion shortly after slipping beneath the waves. She, too, is in several large chunks, like her sister.

Absolutely wonderful looking warships though. Better lines than the Iowas, IMHO.
 
Posts: 766 | Registered: Fri 13 October 2000Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Experienced Member
Posted Hide Post
If you ever get to Washington, DC, there is a barrel from a Yamato class BB, alongside a US 16" barrel, on display at the Navy Museum at the Washington Nsvy Yard. The Navy Museum is housed in the old Navy Gun Factory. Pretty cool.

If you do go, be careful. The Navy Yard is not in the nicest part of town.
 
Posts: 5106 | Registered: Fri 27 September 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Member
Picture of E_Rommel44
Posted Hide Post
Wow ... frankly I think this is a great idea if they can pull it off. As someone really interested in shipwrecks I find this more than a bit fascinating. The technology and experience learned for something on this scale would have to go a long way in salvage ventures for the future too. I would just love to see the raise let alone actually take a look at the ship in any condition after breaking the surface. I wish them luck , cause it's just daunting when I think about doing something like this. Someone mentioned the Shinano too ... I wonder how difficult that would be?
 
Posts: 460 | Registered: Thu 28 December 2000Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
If the enemy is in range,So are you!

F.I.I.G.M.O.


On Warning: 10 days for personal attacks and disruptive post.

Stillkit
Picture of ordmate
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by gumbydammit:
If you ever get to Washington, DC, there is a barrel from a Yamato class BB, alongside a US 16" barrel, on display at the Navy Museum at the Washington Nsvy Yard. The Navy Museum is housed in the old Navy Gun Factory. Pretty cool.

If you do go, be careful. The Navy Yard is not in the nicest part of town.

If I remember correctly the three jap battleships had 19" main gun's while our's had 16"'er's. Do'es size really matter when they are that big I'm all for it,Let the swiss spend thier money. Think of all the japanese that will pay out good money to tour the the old girl
 
Posts: 528 | Registered: Tue 29 April 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Member
Posted Hide Post
Close Chuck, they were 18" inchers. The Germans, the Nazis, had plans drawn up for a 20" inch main battery battleship.
 
Posts: 1024 | Registered: Fri 05 October 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
If the enemy is in range,So are you!

F.I.I.G.M.O.


On Warning: 10 days for personal attacks and disruptive post.

Stillkit
Picture of ordmate
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by JPope:
Close Chuck, they were 18" inchers. The Germans, the Nazis, had plans drawn up for a 20" inch main battery battleship.

You are correct Darryl. Did that Battlewagon have Toepedo's on it ?
 
Posts: 528 | Registered: Tue 29 April 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message


Picture of LineDoggie
Posted Hide Post
It's a War Grave, Leave it alone you greedy *******s
 
Posts: 18765 | Registered: Thu 17 November 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
If the enemy is in range,So are you!

F.I.I.G.M.O.


On Warning: 10 days for personal attacks and disruptive post.

Stillkit
Picture of ordmate
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by LineDoggie:
It's a War Grave, Leave it alone you greedy *******s
GREEDY ******'s.?
The same could be said of Pearl Harbor or any battle ground in the pacific. I don't care if they bring her up or not. IT'S a Japanese ship. If they don't care who are we to tell them ,NO.
 
Posts: 528 | Registered: Tue 29 April 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Member
Posted Hide Post
Wow, I do not remember if it did or not? It seems to me that yes, but they were removed...... that has been so long since looking at those specs.
 
Posts: 1024 | Registered: Fri 05 October 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
  Powered by Eve Community Page 1 2  
 

Military.com    Military.com Forums  Hop To Forum Categories  Military History  Hop To Forums  World War II    WW2 era IJN Battleship MUSASHI to be salvaged?!

© 2009 Military Advantage, Inc.