Graf Zeppelin wreck discovered

[Kaos]

Hey,

Not sure if you guys know but just yesterday a wreck discovered by a Polish ship in the Baltic Sea was confirmed to be the 'Graf Zeppelin', Nazi Germany's only aircraft carrier.

It's quite an impressive piece of engineering. Shame it never saw war...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_aircraft_carrier_Graf_Zeppelin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_aircraft_carrier_Graf_Zeppelin#Discovery_in _2006

Sorry about the source, it's the only one I can find reporting this.

[75thDeadMan]

thats BS, every historian knows that all Zeppelins are blimbs

[BillSpargo]

thats BS, every historian knows that all Zeppelins are blimbs
Blimps don't have a frame, the German airships (dirigibles) were not blimps.:)

[Kaos]

I know deadman was being sarcastic, but just incase anyone else is confused:

The Graf Zeppelin is a ship.

[2ltben]

The name Zeppelin comes from this man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_von_Zeppelin), not the Great War airships.

[Wolfsburg]

Here's another link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060727/ap_on_re_eu/poland_graf_zeppelin

It's a fascinating find! Considering how famous it was (at least to history nerds such as myself) I'm surprised it has just now been discovered.

[75thDeadMan]

it is a funky looking ship I will give it that. to be honest I never even heard of it until a friend told me about it.

[enigma]

There was a story iirc that she sank while taking war booty back to Lenningrad, so one wonders what they may find in the hull if they bring it up?

[[BEF]-R!G4M0RT!Z]

If you read the wiki page, that he has linked to, it says that the Russians towed it back to Leningrad, decided it werent all that good, then used it for target practice. ;)

[FartCop]

According the records it was used as target practice to gain experience in firing at and sinking aircraft carriers. Testament to the German engineering skills it remained afloat after 24 bombs and projectiles hit it.

It was initially towed to Leningrad laden with several items literring it's decks and holds. When it was found impractical to repair/complete it was hence used as the aformentioned target.

This according to the text on Wikipedia. Please correct me if I am wrong or I misread.

[xplosiv]

Interesting stuff, can't wait to see what they find :)

[enigma]

Well there are several stories of what happened,

1 it sank en route to Lenningrad after setting sail (war booty still inside) - prehaps links in with 2
2 struck a mine and sank
3 it was used as traget practice in the middle of the baltic (no war booty)
4 it towed aload of war booty back to the motherland ... who knows what happened to it after that ... which does sort link it with 5
5 it took war booty back and then was used as a target.

Ive read basically different versions of those around the net in the last few years.

[Kaos]

War booty from where, exactly?

[[BEF]-R!G4M0RT!Z]

According to the wiki page, it carried war booty taken from Poland and Germany to Leningrad.

[enigma]

War booty from where, exactly?
well Germany i would have presumed, teh Soviets did pack up basically very Factroy they came across. One wonders if they got off with some of the gold and art the Nazis had looted.
I did read something where people had mentioned V1 and V2s where in the ships hull, however most of that i tihnk is just speculation.

[FartCop]

That would make a very interesting movie.....

[Lordwatson]

Yes A Zeppelin is a Rigid Aircraft, a blimp is not :)

I had only heard the name of this before, I never actualkly knew what it was, but I am glad I finally do!