Scapa 1919

The Archaeology of a Scuttled Fleet

Scapa 1919 cover

Scapa 1919

The Archaeology of a Scuttled Fleet

Description

Marine archaeologist Dr Innes McCartney reveals – for the first time – the location and state of the wrecks of all 25 warships sunk in the scuttling of the German fleet at Scapa Flow.

The German High Seas Fleet was one of the most powerful naval forces in the world, and had fought the pride of the Royal Navy to a stalemate at the battle of Jutland in 1916. After the armistice was signed, ending fighting in World War I, it surrendered to the British and was interned in Scapa Flow pending the outcome of the Treaty of Versailles.

In June 1919, the entire fleet attempted to sink itself in the Flow to prevent it being broken up as war prizes. Of the 74 ships present, 52 sunk and 22 were prevented from doing so by circumstance and British intervention.

Marine archaeologist and historian Dr Innes McCartney reveals for the first time what became of the warships that were scuttled, examining the circumstances behind the loss of each ship and reconciling what was known at the time to what the archaeology is telling us today. This fascinating study reveals a fleet lost for nearly a century beneath the waves.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction

PART ONE: The Scuttling of the German Fleet
1. Surrender and Internment
2. The Scuttle
3. Reaction and disposal of the rump of the German Fleet

PART TWO: Cox & Danks: The Salvage Pioneers
4. The Salvage of the Battlecruisers and their archaeology today
5. The Salvage of the Destroyers and SMS Bremse and their archaeology today

PART THREE: Metal Industries and Locally based salvage
6. The Salvage of the Battleships and their archaeology today
7. SMS Derfflinger and her archaeology today
8. The Royal Navy
9. Scapa Flow Salvage & Shipbreaking Co.

PART FOUR: The Survivors: Battleships
10. SMS Konig
11. SMS Markgraf
12. SMS Kronprinz
13. SMS Dresden

PART FIVE: The Survivors: Cruisers and Destroyers
14. SMS Coln
15. SMS Karlsrhue
16. SMS Brummer
19. SMS V83 ans SMS S54

PART SIX: Scapa 100 years on
20. Conclusions: The Archaeology of a Scuttled Fleet

Appendices:
1. HMS Vanguard
2. HMS Royal Oak
3. Other Scapa Shipwrecks

Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published 30 May 2019
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 336
ISBN 9781472828958
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Colour and black and white photographs and diagrams
Series General Military
Short code GNM
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Innes McCartney

Dr Innes McCartney is a nautical archaeologist, ex…

Resources

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