rustyaustinchamp Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Hi Steve, Thanks for posting this very interesting thread. What equipment would you need to raise one of those FWD chassis? I mean is there a chance that some of these vehicles could one day make it back to the surface? I've seen vids on youtube of WW2 aircraft recovered this way but never vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FWDTEXAS Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 I would think that straps slung under the frame and atached to some air bags would do the trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil munga Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Hi, these photos look so good they'd make a great calendar ,,, What depth are they at ? will there be much movement in depth due to the tide ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Apart from the depth issue, they wouldnt be too hard to raise. Problem is there is no point as they are not rare enough and it would be too expensive to preserve them to make it worthwhile. Better just to survey them well and record them in situ. (But if someone could get the data plates off for me then that would be great). Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepSeaDrifter Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 Next is another "challenging" vehicle. It was described by the pilot as being a panel truck. Obviously it is on its side (the first we've seen like that) and quite dilapidated. To me, the tires and caps look quite similar to the Plymouth's, and in fact they are pretty much on the same location. I think about 30m apart, which one could guess means they were dumped at the same time and may also be from that 30's-50s era. You may find a clue in the window shape or perhaps the under carriage will devulge something unique that I can't see. Good luck. These 4 vehicles (yes, one more coming) are in the 550m depth range. All were found on the same day. These last 2 and the next one (plus the Piper) by one sub and the touring car by the other. Probably within a half mile to a mile range. These last two are really the only ones very close to each other. The next one appears to be from the same era as the Touring car, but in very poor condition. Also lots of post-war ordnance in the area. Mostly bombs and a few torpedoes and hedgehogs. The rest of the vehicles we've found range from about 360m to 450m and come basically from two other areas, the Defensive Sea Area south of Pearl which is about 4 square miles which has revealed vehicles from both war eras, and a much smaller area to the east and inshore abit which we have basically done downslope runs through and has given us some really unique WWI artifacts (Holt cats, dump truck, Liberties, FWD's). Recoveries could be done but would require a submersible or a working class ROV, both would require a ship, which is the expensive part. I think our day rate is about 35k US$ per day (2 subs) and we're the rock bottom bargain basement deal out there (of the deep subs 1000m or more). There may be some one man subs that are less, but you still need a ship, so not significantly cheaper. About 70% of these vehicles are within 3 miles of shore so you would have to deal with the State too on those. Like with airplanes, I imagine the recovery portion would be the inexpensive part. Reversing the corrosion process and restoration might cost way more. Survey may actually be really be the best way to preserve them (cost-wise). aloha, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Who is currently paying the bills as your doing this survey work ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepSeaDrifter Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 We do 3 "test and trial" dives at the start of each season in which we can dive pretty much where we want within a reasonable distance of Oahu. We start shallow and work our way to 2000m conducting exercises along the way. This is when we find most of our historical artifacts. However recently we have done some ordnance surveys and routing surveys (for power cables) that are also in the artifact rich areas south of Oahu. Our funding agency is NOAA and we're affiliated (employed by) with the Univ. of Hawaii. The rest of the time we're doing science dives around the islands and as far north as Midway and south as NZ. aloha, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Some people are very ........lucky......:iamsmiling: Please keep posting the pictures are fabulous in there own right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 DeepSeaDrifter thank you for the explaination , I hope all your dives are as fruitful and safe as they can be . Take Care Steve . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepSeaDrifter Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 Here is the final vehicle from our last dive. It is pretty much just chassis with front fenders. I think the fenders look pretty similar to the earlier touring car. Another point of interest on it is the wheel appears to have had the wooden spokes which have long deteriorated. Not too exciting, but perhaps it may provide clues to these two cars identities. I've also added 3 more nice images from the touring car that are from the HD captures that I finally was able to get from the data dept. I don't know if they really provide any more insight, but they're different angles and one of them shows the opposite side. The front door is completely off there leaving me still uncertain as to whether that front door opens forward or aft. All comments and observations welcome. Enjoy. aloha, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fesm_ndt Posted February 28, 2010 Share Posted February 28, 2010 Reversing the corrosion process and restoration might cost way more. Survey may actually be really be the best way to preserve them (cost-wise). aloha, Steve I was looking at a display in the Fremantle museum and it showed a steel cannon brought up in the early days, before all the science and another one brought up with the science. The original one, once out of the water continued falling apart, the newer one they keep sumbmersed a lot longer and did magic tricks and it came out fairly pristinge. I know a fair bit about different corrosion damage mechanisms but not sure what is going on in that once out of the water it deterioates quicker. I can only assume the metallic structure becomes completely polarised under the water and kind of stabilises it with the lesser oxygen. Once out of the water, lots of oxygen it goes off like a sherbet bomb (the phd's are going to be shaking their heads at my rough guess). Also saw a video of the USS Arizona survey and they mention certain chambers less oxygen, less damage. Pity it's 93 mb (just checked). Interesting part was finding a set of trousers still on the hanger in the cupboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 It is not often that we restart old threads, but this one was really something special and deserves another go. There is another reason and for which i ask for your help. You will remember that Steve Price provided great interest to this forum with his postings of photographs of submerged vehicles taken from the manned submersibles off Hawaii. Well Steve has just contacted me with this message. This is going out to all our friends in Maritime Heritage. In case you haven't heard, NOAA has zeroed out our budget starting Oct 1. If we are not reinstated our submersible program will be likely shut down. This program has been operating for 30 years doing science, research, and exploration from Midway to New Zealand.....not to mention our discoveries and contributions to Maritime Heritage, which were not really a part of our mission, but we were able to conduct via our "test and trial" dives. Please support us by joining the petition linked below before March 27th Senate Hearing. Lets keep the only remaining manned deep submergence assets in Central and Western Pacific funded and operational. Forwarding to friend, family, and collegues, along with any personal commentary would be appreciated. aloha, Steve Price Maintenance Chief, Co-Pilot, Diver Hawaii Undersea Research Lab http://signon.org/sign/support-deep-sea-research-1?source=c.em.cp&r_by=3361848 They only require another 68 signatures. Now make that 67. it will make a difference. please do it. Thanks Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 have just signed, and put link to facebook Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Agreed, 2/3 of the world surface and nobody wants to look? Penny wise, dollar stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Signed, do hope they are able to continue.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scruffyHerrbert Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 66 now - love discoveries like this - stuff laying 'forgotten' for years, not to mention the deeper understanding and affinity with our planet that comes from devoted work of this kind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shane.c Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 What a fantastic thread, you never know whats down there, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Only 16 more signatures required now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 (edited) I'd suggest you may wish to tweak the thread title to encourage US contributors to consider signing, as I'm sure signatures originating inside the USA will carry more weight if and when the petition is reviewed. I've taken the liberty of cross-posting this on the WW2 Dodge Forum " Pre-WW2 " section with an eye to getting some more US contributors to consider support. http://forum.ww2dodge.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9530&p=55063#p55063 Keep us informed please. Edited March 24, 2012 by Gordon_M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rog8811 Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Done! I left the following message We need to understand the hidden parts of our planet, the most hidden areas are only accessable to submersibles, do not underestimate the importance of the work they do.It it also worth considering that underwater human history need to be recorded, it is ephemeral, if it is not researched now it will be gone forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanker Wannabe Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Signed and forwarded it on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Ramsden Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Great news I just heard from Steve and the petition was a success. So many thanks to everyone who signed. They are still operating although they don't have the resources they used to have. Anyway, Steve sent me some results from their latest dive. Do say if you think you can identify any of them. The last one is a Nash (although obviously not a Quad). Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 What beautiful shots! I could live with those pictures on the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtskull Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Does anybody else find it slightly intriguing that, apart from the two later vehicles, everything is standing on the sea bed the right way up? Any ideas as to why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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