US Navy maps of wrecks

[mariner]

A friend has told me that some time ago he came across a series of charts of the NE cost of America produced by the US Navy during WWII, and showing all known shipwrecks along that part of the coast. Does anybody know anything about these maps, and whether they covered the entire US coast?

Mariner

 

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[Mackaydon]

Mariner:
While I know squat about those particular charts, I know the Lib. of Congress, Map Department would have an accessible copy--perhaps even an online version. Here's one of several sites that might be of assistance: http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/refweb.html
Don..........

 

[ivan salis]

these maps were made to keep warships from depth charging wrecksites thinking it was a german sub hanging out near the bottom and to help our forigen allies merchant ships avoid running aground on the wrecks.

 

[mariner]

Thanks Ivan.

Do you have any idea how you can get hold of these charts? I had heard that there was a museum somewhere up on the NE coast of the USA that had copies of some of the charts.

Thanks, Don, for the link you supplied, but these maps were apparently developed and distributed secretly, and are not available through that particular link, nor anywhere else on the Internet as far as I know.

Mariner

 

[piratediver]

Try the library at the Naval Historical Center in D.C., phone is 202-433-4132.

Good luck,


Pirate Diver

 

[mariner]

Thanks P.D.

Sounds like a good idea.

Mariner

 

[piratediver]

You're welcome. If that doesn't work out let me know and I'll make a few calls within the Navy museum community of which I am the resident pirate.


Pirate Diver

 

[mariner]

PD,

That's quite a role !

Best wishes, and Thanks!

Mariner

 

[piratediver]

Since I was and sort of still am the archaeologist on the WHYDAH and some other evil private sector ventures I am considered a pirate, ironic since I am the archaeologist who first confirmed the site as being the WHYDAH! After seeing first hand the behavior of the so called
"professional" archaeological community, I am proud to be a pirate and if I lived during the late 17th-Early 18th century (as a few psychics have told me I did), I most certainly would have been a pirate.

Despite this, I make my living in the world of museums and naval history, always with an eye on the ocean which lies less than 200 yards from my office.


PD

 

[Salvor6]

Hey Piratediver, I just saw the new "Pirate" film about Black Sam Bellamy on the National Geographic channel. Are you guys still excavating the Whydah?

 

[piratediver]

Yes we are still excavating and finding lots of great artifacts. There is a major exhibit touring the US now for 5 years, it is currently at the Franklin Institute in Philly.

Thanks God we now have hot water suits!


Pirate Diver

 

[SMILIES]

I've been looking for that chart also. What I've found out is the possible name of the chart. "The US anti submarine warfare chart" Where you can see a copy in a recent docementry. Either on Discovery Channel or National Geographic Channel guys were trying to find the Andrea Gail wreck from the movie "The Perfect Storm" They are using that chart in that Documentry to elimate known wrecks. You see it briefly while they are working in the cabin of the research vessel. I've done internet searches with no luck. If you ever find it please email me at [email protected]

Thanks,
Micah

 

[ivan salis]

them charts worth their wieght in gold

 

[Peerless67]

them charts worth their wieght in gold

I would say so, and I would guess they have been in use for sometime

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1280945/posts

 

[mariner]

Peerless,

What's the connection between the story that your link takes us to and the secret Navy Charts showing the location of wrecks? Are you suggesting that these charts were used to locate these particular wrecks? The story doesn't say so.

Mariner

 

[Peerless67]

I've been looking for that chart also. What I've found out is the possible name of the chart. "The US anti submarine warfare chart" Where you can see a copy in a recent docementry. Either on Discovery Channel or National Geographic Channel guys were trying to find the Andrea Gail wreck from the movie "The Perfect Storm" They are using that chart in that Documentry to elimate known wrecks. You see it briefly while they are working in the cabin of the research vessel. I've done internet searches with no luck. If you ever find it please email me at [email protected]

Thanks,
Micah

Peerless,

What's the connection between the story that your link takes us to and the secret Navy Charts showing the location of wrecks? Are you suggesting that these charts were used to locate these particular wrecks? The story doesn't say so.

Mariner

The Andrea Gail "searchers" are the link, the post above gives you a clue.
And this from the link : "They are working in the area of the "Andrea Gail". I hope that they find her, so that crew may come home finally."

 

[ivan salis]

by removing the older wrecks on the WW2 wrecks chart (used for anti submarine warfare) to remove the old wrecks from their sonar findings they can only look at new wrecks --ir hopefull the ANDREA GAIL( these charts were made by US forces to prevent destoyers from depth charging wrecks laying on the bottom thinking they were subs ---it was a favorite sub trick --to lay on the bottom quietly until a passing destroyer went by -- after a while US forces "caught on to this trick and anything that didn't match bottom contour was attacked --over time old wrecks were found and their locations plotted to prevent wasting ammo by depth charging them-- these maps were very secert at the time -- if the germans had got the charts --they could hide their subs close to the wrecks and fool our forces" using the old anti submarine warface charts with their sonar findings -- they can only look for newer wrecks (post WW2 )--ie the "ANDREA GAIL"--it how they search --those charts are worth their weight in gold to deep water treasure hunters no doubt

 

[barney]

Actually, the USN non-sub contact list is of limited use IMHO. Specifically, I am referring to "Publication 120, Volume II, Non-Submarine Contacts in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea." Most of the coordinates are rough locations based on ESF reports, newspaper reported locations for pre-WWII, etc., so accuracy is on the scale of miles. Most of this information as trickled down through the years and appears in the AWOIS database now. There are a few nuggets here and there, but I don't think it is what most of you are expecting. If there is a way to attach a 2 MB .pdf, I am happy to make it available to list members. Or, I can just upload it to my website for people to download....
Cheers,
Mike

 

[Darren in NC]

I'd love to have a copy, Mike. Thanks so much. You can send it to my email or I'd be glad to download it from your website. Thanks again!

Darren

 

[barney]

I just added it to the website front page...