Titanic search was cover for Cold War search for lost subs

[raptor10]

Leader of 1985 search which uncovered the Titanic talks about the recently declassified impetus for the expedition: the search for the Scorpion and the Thresher...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3994955.ece

 

[BigIron]

It might have been a cover for the inspections / radiation monitoring of the subs. They had both been found prior to 1985.

The Scorpion was found in late 68. Attached is picture taken by the Trieste in 1968.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Been a while since I read Bob Ballard's book, but as I recall, the Navy wanted to use Alvin to get a good look at the wreck of Scorpion. It had indeed already been found, but Alvin has better maneuverability and cameras than Trieste did. Since Scorpion is in roughly the same patch of ocean as Titanic, Ballard talked the Navy into paying the bill for the whole expedition in exchange for use of Alvin. Plus, he was a Navy Reservist at the time, so it worked out.

 

[GroundPounder]

Wouldn't be the first time that someone said they were doing one thing and really doing another. For example the Glomar Explorer and the K129.

That Ballard guy always reminds me of Super Dave Osborn, or Marty Funhauser depending on how old you are.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Ballard came and talked at the Boat Skool during my incarceration once or twice. Really interesting lectures, definitely one of the Top 5 Boreusall speakers. Wasn't the usual "look at the cool stuff I did, yay me" most of those guys did. Talked a bit about his expeditions, lots about the technical side, rapped about deep-submergence programs in general, and how the Navy needs to think out of the Fast Attack/Boomer box.

 

[scoober78]

Yeah...not trying to knock Ballard at all...but he didn't "find out" anything. That is not the whole story. Causes, locations etc...were all "known". Other resources are available...

 

[A4sForever]

Given the above ... a general question, if I may: how about Ballard & the YORKTOWN?? What's your "search rationale" there ???