![]() ![]() This 32,720 ton vessel lies upside down and makes for an amazing dive site. HIJMS Nagato rests at a depth of 51.8m/170ft. The lone survivor, the Nagato, died at Bikini as a target in an atomic bomb test.” Of ten battleships riding in Hiroshima Bay in December of 1941, nine were sunk. Then, in less than four years, this great war machine fell from glory to oblivion. Masanori Ito, the Japanese historian, wrote “When World War II began, the Japanese Navy - the third most powerful in the world - included some of the mightiest ships in naval history and was a force worthy of the pride and trust of the Japanese people. As Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s pride and joy, this floating fortress took part in Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor during WWII. The flagship Nagato was a treasure of the Japanese Navy. Read our Wreck In Depth article about USS Saratoga HEREĭOWNLOAD the schematics of the USS Saratoga HERE The bombs and Helldivers are all on display with their controls and dials still intact. The bridge is accessible at 12m/40ft with the deck at 25m/82ft. USS Saratoga now rests 50m/167ft below the water in Bikini’s lagoon. But she died a lonely death, with no man upon the decks once teaming with life”. There were scores who wanted to save her-and perhaps she might have been saved, had there been a crew aboard. Outside the reef … the observing ships cruised, while the Sara slowly died. Baldwin, a correspondent for the New York Times, wrote “There were many who had served her in the observing fleet and they fought with her through the long hot hours as the sun mounted. Eight hours later, as he watched the aircraft carrier sink below the water, Hanson W. The Baker blast created waves that washed over the Saratoga. The explosion forced the vessel out of the water, knocking everything off the flight deck and destroying her funnel. Her ammunition and fuel loads were at 67 and 10 percent capacity. Having survived the first nuclear blast, Saratoga was not so lucky during Baker, the second blast. She sustained damage but was repaired and in July 1946, took part in Operation Crossroads. The Japanese claimed to have sunk the Saratoga on a number of occasions during WWII. This 39,000 ton vessel had a huge fuel capacity and could carry 132,264 gallons of gasoline, 63,200 barrels of oil and 249 barrels of diesel. After entering service in 1928, she spent her whole career with the Pacific Fleet. The USS Saratoga was one of the first US aircraft carriers commissioned during 1927. Read our Wreck In Depth article about Prinz Eugen HERE. There the Prinz Eugen remains, still partially visible above the surface of the water. She survived the atomic blasts and was taken to Kwajalein Atoll, finally capsizing in December 1946. Prinz Eugen was assigned to Operation Crossroads and took part in the Bikini Atoll tests. Eventually, Prinz Eugen was given to the US Navy who kept her as a war trophy. In May 1945, when Germany collapsed, the ship was turned over to Britain’s Royal Navy. She again returned to Germany for urgent repairs to her stern. Shortly after arriving, Prinz Eugen received severe damage after being hit by a torpedo fired by Trident, a British submarine. February 1942 saw the heavy cruiser deployed to Norway. This was a daring maneuver and saw the ship making a quick return to Germany via the English Channel during daylight hours. Ultimately, the operation was curtailed because of engine problems.Īfter undergoing necessary repairs in occupied France, Prinz Eugen was part of Operation Cerberus. Prinz Eugen then detached from the Bismarck to disrupt the allied merchant ships and routes. ![]() In the process, they damaged the HMS Prince of Wales and destroyed the battlecruiser, HMS Hood. ![]() The Battle of the Denmark Strait saw this pair of ships attempt to break out into the North Atlantic Ocean. Together with the Bismarck, Prinz Eugen took part in Operation Rheinübung in May 1941. Construction of the ship began in April 1936 and after the war broke out, the Prinz Eugen entered German service in August 1940. This Admiral Hipper-class cruiser served as part of the Nazi Kriegsmarine during WWII. The Prinz Eugen was named after an 18th-century Austrian general, Prince Eugene of Savoy. ![]()
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