The Wreck of HMS Hermes - A Largely Forgotten Victim
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- Опубликовано: 12 авг 2023
- At least, forgotten in the sense that her shipwreck is shockingly lacking in coverage, considering the shallow depth.
First discovered in 1967, local instability would see Hermes slip away from the popular imagination for decades. She would only be rediscovered in 2002, and promptly become a popular local diving spot. Though, in comparison to the Crossroads wrecks, one that doesn't get much in the way of attention.
I can't stand that there are ghouls who have disassembled the war graves that these ships are.
Lack of enforcement due to corruption
There’s a lot of those numbskulls unfortunately. Many wrecks like De Ruyter, Houston, Exeter, and many more have been completely dismantled to the point where only the impact craters and a pieces of uneconomical debris.
It's not listed as a war grave by the government
The Chinese don't care
@@brownwrench if they believe ground down, those wrecks help with erectile problems, they will rob these wrecks... Sad but true.
I like these wreck videos
A curse upon anyone who despoils a war grave.
Yup, it's only a matter of time before she ends up "missing" from the sea floor.
Not a war grave
It's good to see Hermes' lack of notoriety protecting her surprisingly preserved wreck from unsavory types. Hopefully, that will continue to hold in the future.
I've just discovered that an Ancestor of mine died on this ship - Dennis Walter Bland (1924-1942).
Its a very strange feeling seeing footage and photographs of the sinking and knowing he was in their somewhere...
As someone who grew up watching Jacques Cousteau along with reading the issues of National Geographic dealing with the discoveries of a certain ocean liner and German battleship I'm really loving these shipwreck videos. While not a WWII shipwreck I'd love if you did a video about HMS Victoria if only due to it being such a unique shipwreck.
On a bright side, she’s rather safe from being robbed. She’s a very popular diving spot where the tourists frequently visit, almost daily if the local tour books are accurate. And she sunk very close to the shore (you can see the shoreline in the background of the photo of her sinking). These would have deter the illegal salvagers in some degree since those grave robbers normally targeted less visited wreck far away from public eyes. And there had not yet been an account of those thieves to go all the way to Sri Lanka. So she’s quite safe compared to other ships in South East Asia region.
We know the nationality of the thieves.
The first carrier vs. carrier fight in the world if we’re being technical.
HMS Hermes, defiant in mooning toilets to scrappers. I view it as a nautical two fingers:-)
Surprised the Chinese have not gutted her for salvage like Prince of Wales and Repulse. But after this video her days are numbered now.
😂 I didn't realize I was looking at the "Head" until you pointed it out!
One for my diving bucket list
I did dive the Hermes in 2018. The depth starts at about 45-50m. We carried twin tank (air) at the back and a side mount with 50% oxygen for decompression stop (a few extra diving license is required to make such dives). These will give bottom time of 20-25 minutes and, with the help of the 50% oxygen, decompression stop on the way up will be just about 1 hour.
We made a total of 6 dives, stay mainly at the stern and saw the propeller, the toilet, and a gun (not sure which one) and made some light penetration. Visibility was just average and could only see a small part of the wreck. Our depth was mostly around 50m.
We didn't get to the bow section as it is deeper. An extra 5-10 metes may sound little to normal people, but for divers at that depth, it is huge difference. Either your bottom time need to cut by at least half, or you need to go with trimix (oxygen+nitrogen+helium), which is much complicated and require a lot more additional training.
I believe there are a few additional reasons that contribute to why the wreck is well preserved:
1) The only dive operator there keep the exact location a secret. The GPS given by your cell phone is probably not accurate enough.
2) Which it is theoretically possible for recreational divers (single tank air) to get there, it will be just be a bounce and bottom time will be 5 minutes at the most, and then you spend one hour for decompression stop.
3) The wreck is deep inside Sir Lanka water.
I have a soft spot for Hermes, sad the way she was lost with no aircraft aboard to defend her.
Another great video on shipwrecks! Do you hope to someday cover the Java sea wrecks?
Didn't know she sank in shallow water in Indian Ocean. Thought it was deep.
But if it can be dived. It can be salvaged
I'm all for nations allowing free fire for Submarines on any ship conducting illegal Salvage.
The toilets being visible is hilarious
I’m very surprised she hasn’t been illegally salvaged like other wrecks
Like No 476 here... nice presentation and clips! I will say that deep water wrecks are preserved much better because of the lack of oxygen at those depths, which retard the oxidation process of the steel, as well as minimize encrustation by marine organisms, as you stated. Keep up the good work!
Hermes was a good concept, but like America's first from the keel up built carrier, Ranger was too short, lightly protected and with a pitifully small air capability of outdated aircraft. Ranger had a sufficient air compliment, but was not suited for long Pacific combat cruises which is why she remained in the Atlantic. Hermes seemed to have an usually large island compared the length of her flight deck. I believe this was done to counterbalance her relatively small hull.
40? Jesus
That's what I'm saying
Would you have any interest in doing a piece on the Texas towers, especially number four?
My nans brother died on this ship. I have his medals and a hms hermes handkerchief
The USS Monitor was depth charged at least once during world war 2. Could HMS Hermes have suffered the same action?
??????? You talking about USS Monitor from the Civil War ?
Those chodbins look pretty much as if it was th morning after a night ashore having a Ruby Murray and a few pints of best, esp if one of your messmates had drawn th short straw....
I wonder how long it'll take until the Chinese dredge her up for scrap.
Not for myself. 👍🏻🏴🇺🇸
👍
Use Wikipedia as my primary source? I take serious offence
I used her in world of warships legends..very basic ship..
Please leave grave sites alone outside of documentation.
DONT LET china FIND IT ... just sayin