Fixbayonets! Posted May 12, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 12, 2009 Here are a few relics recovered from the wreck of the armored cruiser USS San Diego. The USS San Diego holds the unfortunate distinction of being the only major U.S. warship lost during WWI. It was sunk on July 19, 1918 off the south shore of Long Island, New York. To this day the cirumstances of the sinking remain a mystery, some say it hit a mine, some say it was an internal explosion & others say it was torpeoded. First up is a clip of .30 caliber ammunition in uncleaned condition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted May 12, 2009 Top cover to a U.S. Navy first aid packet in cleaned condition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted May 12, 2009 3"/50 caliber shell casing in cleaned condition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted May 12, 2009 Markings on the bottom of the shell casing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww2_1943 Posted May 13, 2009 Share #5 Posted May 13, 2009 Neat. Are you a diver? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted May 13, 2009 I am not a diver but I received these items from someone who did dive on the wreck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drmessimer Posted May 27, 2009 Share #7 Posted May 27, 2009 There is no mystery to why the USS San Diego sank. The U-Cruiser 156, a Deustchland class U-Boat, torpedoed her on 19 July 1918. The U-156 in turn was sunk enroute Germany. The sources for that information are Naval History Division, Department of the Navy, Dictionary of American Naval Ships, vol. II, pp. 13-14 and Arno Spindler, Der Handelskrieg mit U-Booten, vol. V, p. 260. drmessimer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted May 27, 2009 It depends on what you read or who you talk to but there has always been a debate since the day the ship was sunk. From an article dated 1960: A British Admiralty report, after the war, indicated that German U-boat 156, according to German records, had torpedoed and sunk the San Diego. Strong evidence pointed to a mine as the explosion cause. Navy ships exploring the area spotted six mines the day after the sinking. The official Navy Court of Inquiry concluded the sinking had been caused by the external explosion of a mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy Posted May 27, 2009 Share #9 Posted May 27, 2009 Is this the one they recently found in near untouched condition at the bottom? They really should consider raising parts of her or something, if it's really in such amazing condition and all. Make some sort of museum or memorial with what they bring up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted May 27, 2009 Is this the one they recently found in near untouched condition at the bottom? They really should consider raising parts of her or something, if it's really in such amazing condition and all. Make some sort of museum or memorial with what they bring up. No, not recently found. The U.S. Navy knew the exact location of the ship and sent divers down to inspect the wreck in 1918. The wreck has proved to be very popular with divers and has been explored for years, in fact 6 divers have lost their lives on the wreck. From what I have heard (but I am not 100% sure) the wreck site is now protected. Divers can still explore the wreck but recovering artifacts is now prohibited, too much live ordnance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Share #11 Posted May 28, 2009 Here is an interesting page from a Naval Aviators FLight Logbook I own from a crewman who flew over the USS San Diego. At the time they thought she hit a mine. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted May 28, 2009 Great flight log with mention of the USS San Diego Kurt, thanks for posting it. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
normaninvasion Posted May 28, 2009 Share #13 Posted May 28, 2009 No, not recently found. The U.S. Navy knew the exact location of the ship and sent divers down to inspect the wreck in 1918. The wreck has proved to be very popular with divers and has been explored for years, in fact 6 divers have lost their lives on the wreck. From what I have heard (but I am not 100% sure) the wreck site is now protected. Divers can still explore the wreck but recovering artifacts is now prohibited, too much live ordnance. Wreck site has been protected since early 90s but is still a popular dive site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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