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The sinking of the Titanic is an infamous event in history. Most people know about the iceberg and the fact that there were too few lifeboats for all the people on board.

However, many people do not know about Charles Herbert Lightoller, the second officer who saved lives and went on to distinguish himself in both world wars.

Lightoller’s maritime career began at the age of 13 when he started a 4-year apprenticeship on the Primrose Hill. A year into the apprenticeship saw him experience his first shipwreck.

The Holt Hill ran aground in 1889 and the Chief Mate was killed. Lightoller and the other survivors spent eight days on the island of St. Paul before being rescued.

Charles Lightoller, an officer on the Titanic.
By the age of 21, Lightoller would be the survivor of a shipwreck, a cyclone, and a fire at sea. He would also have his mates ticket. For years, he would sail the open seas with different ships before joining the White Star Line and eventually boarding the Titanic.

Lightoller was the First Officer on the Titanic for the sea trial, two weeks before its maiden voyage. However, when the ship set sail, he would be the Second Officer as Captain Edward Smith appointed Henry Wilde as the Chief Officer instead.

The Titanic left Queenstown, Ireland on April 11, 1912, and was expected to arrive in New York on April 17, 1912.

Edward J. Smith, on the Olympic, in 1911.
On April 14 at 11:40 pm, Lightoller was in his cabin after his shift when he felt a vibration run through the ship. Dressed in his pajamas, he went to the deck of the ship where he was met by Third Officer Herbert Pitman who had also felt the vibrations.

There was no sign of alarm on the bridge, and the men returned to their cabins to await further orders.

Only a few minutes later, Lightoller would be informed that the ship was taking on water and it was up to F deck in the Mail Room. Getting dressed, he headed to the deck and took charge of the even-numbered lifeboats on the port side.

RMS Titanic.
He supervised the loading of women and children into the lifeboats and asked for permission to lower them. By 2 am, he was lowering Collapsible Boat D when he was told by Wilde to get in, an order he refused.

In the final moments of the sinking ship, he launched Collapsible Boat B before having to dive into the water as the ship surged forward. He was struck by a ventilation shaft but was saved from being pulled under by an exploding boiler. The explosion pushed him to the surface of the water close to the boat he had just launched.

Lightoller survived aboard the Collapsible Boat B.
When the Carpathia arrived to rescue the men in the Collapsible Boat B, it was starting to sink. Lightoller was the last Titanic survivor to be taken aboard as he insisted on helping the others first. He was also the most senior officer to survive the sinking and would be called to the American Inquiry of the sinking.

This would not be the end of his time at sea as, after the American and British Inquiry, he would sail as First Officer on the Oceanic. He was still serving on the ship when WWI began and it became an armed merchant cruiser.

Lightoller, right, with third officer Herbert Pitman.
With the change in status of the ship, he would become a Lieutenant instead of the First Officer. The Oceanic would not serve in the Navy for long as it ran aground on September 8, 1914, before being broken up by a storm three weeks later.

Just before Christmas in 1915, Lightoller was given command of the torpedo boat HMTB 117. His actions as commander would lead to him being presented with the Distinguished Service Cross.

He was then promoted to commander of the Falcon, a torpedo boat destroyer. The Falcon would eventually meet the same fate as the Titanic after colliding with a trawler.

Charles H. Lightoller, second officer of the RMS Titanic.
By the end of 1918, he would leave the Royal Navy as a full commander. His promotion was prompted by his actions in sinking a UB-110 by ramming it with the destroyer Garry.

After leaving the Navy, he returned to White Star Line, but the company wanted to forget about the Titanic and all the people associated with it. This led to him resigning after serving for 20 years with the company.

Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, May 31, 1940.
During his years in retirement, Lightoller opened a guest house and bought a yacht called the Sundowner. However, this was not the end for the seaman as he found himself part of Operation Dynamo in 1940 at the age of 66.

The operation started with a request sent by the British Admiralty for private vessels to help with the evacuation of 400,000 Allied soldiers near Dunkirk.

On June 1, 1940, Lightoller sailed the Sundowner out of Ramsgate with his son Roger and Sea Scout Gerald Ashcroft. The vessel had a capacity of 21 people, but they were able to fit 130 soldiers on board.

On the return voyage, the Sundowner was attacked by runs from Luftwaffe aircraft. However, the evasive maneuvers used by Lightoller ensured that none of the strafing runs hit the boat.

Lightoller’s Sundowner. Photo by Stavros1 CC BY SA 3.0
Another danger came from the waves of fast-moving destroyers, particularly as the Sundowner was deep in the water due to the additional weight and was in danger of being swamped. After 12 hours, the ship made it safely back to Ramsgate.

After the first run, Lightoller wanted to head back to Dunkirk, but only ships able to travel 20 knots were allowed. Following the operation, he joined the Home Guard and worked with the Royal Navy on the Small Vessel Pool until the end of the war.

He was eventually ‘demobbed’ at the age of 72.

NBA star Dwight Howard is the first big name sports star to officially come out, Media Take Out has learned. And he did so this week, in legal paperwork filed in response to a lawsuit.

In an explosive response to a lawsuit where a gay man accused NBA legend Dwight Howard of assault, Media Take Out confirmed that Dwight admitted in legal documents that he met his accuser Stephen Harper on social media in May 2021.

Stephen claims in the lawsuit that he was s****lly assaulted by Dwight so brutally that his bussy was torn to pieces by the 7 foot tall NBA player.

Radar Online was the first to break this story.

Dwight denies assaulting Stephen but he admits to a WHOLE LOT. In his response, he admits having a thr**some with Harper and a person with male body parts named Kitty, who dressed as a woman.

In Stephen Harper’s lawsuit, he claims that he reached out to Dwight via direct message on Instagram. Stephen says Dwight responded and told him he was into “freaky” stuff and that he asked for Harper to send him explicit photos.

Dwight admitted, in his response to the lawsuit, that he did exchange texts with Harper between May 2021 to July 2021, “several of which included s**ually explicit content, such as photographs and videos.”

WHAAAATTT!!

The ex-NBA star also admitted in the legal documents that Harper came over to his home on July 19, 2021. Howard admitted they went to his bedroom, removed their clothing, and “engaged in consensual kissing.”

WHAAAAAAAAAAAATTT!!

In his lawsuit, Harper claimed Howard surprised him by bringing out trans-person, who called himself “Kitty.”

In his complaint, Harper said Dwight wanted a thr**some with Kitty, but he resisted. That’s when, according to Harper, he was assaulted.

Dwight Howard responded, saying first that he was NOT surprised by Kitty being in the bedroom. He said “Plaintiff was aware that [Kitty] would also be arriving at the home prior to Plaintiff even arriving at Defendant’s home.”

And according to Dwight, they all had a consensual three**some.

“The three agreed to touch one another and to engage in consensual sexual activity,” Howard’s lawyer wrote.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT!!

We’re utterly speechless.

In the late 16th century, plans were floated throughout the increasingly powerful Spanish Empire for a possible conquest of China.

Many of those in the recently acquired Spanish territory of Manila, including governor Francisco de Sande, were in favour of using the Philippines to stage such an attack.

Were it not for the reluctance on the part of Philip II, who was occupied with threats in Europe, perhaps an invasion would have been launched. But could it have been successful? Or would it have resulted in disaster?

Why did the Spanish Empire contemplate invading China?

At the very beginning of the 16th century, the Spanish were competing with the Portuguese and wanted to seize a port similar to Macau.

Spain’s initial interest in China arose from early contacts between the Portuguese and Chinese.

These began around 1511 in Malacca, in modern-day Malaysia, a city oflittle was known about China in the West, in contrast to the Americas, until the second half of the 16th century, although there are some Portuguese manuscript sources from as early as 1524.

The notion of armed incursion, the seizure of a port or of the whole province of Canton, was mooted in these accounts.

They also described an “effeminate” Chinese population exploited and tyrannised by mandarins, with a defective military.

The Portuguese attempted to establish themselves from the 1520s in Macau, but suffered a series of naval defeats, with the Chinese reverse-engineering and then mass-producing the canon and firearms they had captured, neutralising any military advantage Europeans may have possessed.

Eventually they signed a treaty and leased Macau to the Portuguese in 1557 in exchange for silver, an arrangement that lasted until 1999.

 

Renowned actor Denzel Washington has issued a shocking warning to spiritual leader T.D. Jakes and music mogul Diddy.

In a recent interview, Washington had some powerful words of caution for the two influential figures.

Washington expressed concern over the responsibility and power that Jakes and Diddy hold in their respective fields. He emphasized that they possess the ability to shape and influence the minds and hearts of millions of people around the world.

The actor urged both individuals to be mindful of the impact they have on their followers and to use their platforms wisely. Washington stressed that they must understand the gravity of their positions and the potential consequences of their actions.

Washington’s message appeared to stem from a deeply rooted belief in the responsibility of leaders to lead with integrity and empathy. His warning serves as a reminder that those in positions of power must be conscious of the effects of their words and actions.

This cautionary statement comes at a time when many public figures are being called out for their questionable behavior and lack of accountability. Washington’s words serve as a timely reminder for Jakes and Diddy to be mindful of their actions and to lead by example.

Overall, Denzel Washington’s message to T.D. Jakes and Diddy is a powerful call for them to recognize the influence they possess and to use it responsibly. It serves as a wake-up call for leaders in various industries to be mindful of the impact they have on those who look up to them.

Serena Williams’s Daughter: Living a Life of Luxury from a Young Age

 

In the glamorous world of celebrity offspring, few can rival the opulent lifestyle enjoyed by Serena Williams’s daughter. From a tender age, she has been a shining example of what it means to grow up in the lap of luxury, frequently adorned in designer attire and savoring all the perks that come with her famous lineage.

Born into the spotlight, Serena Williams’s daughter has been making headlines since the moment she entered the world. With a mother who is one of the most iconic figures in the world of tennis and beyond, it was inevitable that her life would be far from ordinary. However, what sets her apart is the extent to which she has been able to revel in extravagance right from the beginning.

One of the мost striking aspects of her opυlent lifestyle is her iмpeccable fashion sense. Serena Williaмs’s daυghter is freqυently seen dressed in designer clothing that woυld мake even the мost seasoned fashionistas envioυs. Her wardrobe is a testaмent to her faмily’s afflυence, with an array of cυstoм-мade oυtfits, high-end brands, and exclυsive pieces that мost people can only dreaм of.

Bυt it’s not jυst aboυt the clothes. Serena Williaмs’s daυghter is often photographed attending A-list events, rυbbing shoυlders with celebrities, and traveling to exotic destinations. Her life is a whirlwind of lυxυry vacations, exclυsive parties, and high-society gatherings that мost people can only fantasize aboυt.

In a world where faмe and fortυne often coмe hand in hand, Serena Williaмs’s daυghter has eмerged as a shining exaмple of what it мeans to enjoy the frυits of sυccess froм a yoυng age. Her story continυes to captivate the pυblic, мaking her a syмbol of opυlence and extravagance in the world of celebrity offspring. As she grows, the world eagerly watches to see what incredible experiences and lυxυries await her in the fυtυre.

Only a few days after the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day, the dust and heat of the tortured area stirred up quite a thirst in the British boys on the front lines. Young men who had survived the brutal landings and pushed several miles inland found poisoned water and only a weak cider to drink. Soldiers wishing for a fine pint of beer was a common occurrence.

The boys needed their beer. Anyone who has been around young men knows they will find a way to get their beer. And it wouldn’t bother them if the delivery system is illegal or otherwise non-regulation.

Upon hearing of this dilemma through a Reuters correspondent report back in London, the Henty and Constable Brewery offered free beer to the British armed forces in France. Men called “sourcers” sprang into action. Often involved in black market goods, these men would devise a way to get the beer to the soldiers.

Volunteer pilots from the Royal Air Force soon were in the bootlegging business. Jettison fuel tanks were steam cleaned, and the brewery filled the tank with beer. A quick flight up to 15,000 feet thoroughly chilled the shipment sloshing about in the tanks.

Filling the tank with beer for the flight to the front
The pilot of one of the first beer runs received instructions to follow the salvo fire from the battleship Rodney and land on a small strip just to the south of the bombarded area. He and two other pilots flew across the channel and reduced altitude to 5,000 feet. He was quoted saying,

“The welcoming from the Rodney was hardly inviting, but sure enough, there was the strip. Wheels down and in we go, three Spits with 90-gallon jet taks fully loaded with cool beer.”

Neither were there any happy Brits greeting the planes as they taxied near the end of that particular runway. A man appeared from behind a tree and rushed to the Spitfires. He pointed to a church steeple and quickly explained German snipers had been taking shots at them all day. “You better drop your tanks and get off before it’s too late.” The three planes did just that and got out of there in a hurry.

The alterations made to the jettison tanks was even given an official designation: Modification XXX. However, as one might expect, a tank that formerly held aviation fuel tainted its new contents with a metallic taste.

Beer barrels attached to the wings
Nonetheless, the “erks,” as the infantrymen were called, drank every drop. Another pilot said he hated making the beer runs as everyone at the airfield was watching and anxiously awaiting his safe landing. And if a rough landing damaged the tank filled with beer, the pilot responsible was reviled and despised for a period of time – until he successfully delivered a shipment of beer!

Enterprising Royal Air Force personnel also modified the Spitfire’s bomb racks to fit barrels of beer to the wings. The beautiful aircraft would cruise through the sky with a barrel attached to either side of the fuselage. An outfit in Sussex took the idea one step further, designing a “Beer Bomb.” Wooden casks were fitted with streamlined nose cones, giving the appearance of a real bomb.

Improving aerodynamics
Especially after refueling stations were established in the conquered territories, the jettison tanks, made in London, were no longer needed in battle and were instead filled with Black Eagle brews from Westerham. The planes would have “Bitter” on one side, and “Mild” on the other.

The Americans got onto the bandwagon after seeing the British operation, and an Icelandic pilot with modified tanks on a P51 Mustang successfully cart beer from London to France. One remark was, “…those Brits really know how to go to war.” Shortly after that, Mustangs also made the beer runs, delivering the brew to the equally thirsty boys in the US Army.

All set to fly to the front!
In addition to the Spitfires and Mustangs, the Hawker Typhoon was also used in these goodwill missions. The pilots must have felt they were providing a humanitarian service. Often, after completing their delivery, the fighters would continue to strafe a freight train or bomb a building or two. Obviously, the beer bombs were saved for the British soldiers.

The beer runs were unofficially approved by the brass and continued until a major shortage occurred in all of England. But by then, breweries in the path of the Allied forces were pressed into service, likely to the relief of the local survivors as well as the soldiers of World War II.

Nearly lost to history

Tutankhamun was only the age of nine when he became king of Egypt during the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom (c. 1332–1323 B.C.E.). His story would have been lost to history if it were not for the discovery of his tomb in 1922 by the archaeologist Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings. His nearly intact tomb held a wealth of objects that give us unique insights into this period of ancient Egyptian history.

New Kingdom of the Egyptian Empire, c. 1500 B.C.E.

Tutankhamun ruled after the Amarna age, when the pharaoh Akhenaten, Tutankhamun’s probable father, turned the religious attention of the kingdom to the worship of the god Aten, the sun disc. Akhenaten moved his capital city to the site of Akhetaten (also known as Amarna), in Middle Egypt—far from the previous pharaoh’s capital. After Akhenaten’s death and the rule of a short-lived pharaoh, Smenkhkare, Tutankhamen shifted the focus of the country’s worship back to the god
Amun
and returned the religious center back to Thebes.

Tutankhamun married his half-sister, Ankhesenamun, but they did not produce an heir. This left the line of succession unclear. Tutankhamun died at the young age of eighteen, leading many scholars to speculate on the manner of his death—chariot accident, murder by blow to the head, and even a hippopotamus attack! The answer is still unclear. Tutankhamun’s much-older advisor (and possible step-grandfather), Ay, married the widowed Ankhesenamun and became pharaoh.

Valley of the Kings, Egypt (photo: Troels Myrup, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The tomb

During the early twentieth century, Howard Carter, a British Egyptologist, excavated for many years in the Valley of the Kings—a royal burial ground located on the west bank of the ancient city of Thebes. He was running out of money to support his archaeological digs when he asked for funding for one more season from his financial backer, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon. Lord Carnarvon granted him one more year—and what a year it was!

George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, Fifth Earl of Carnarvon, with Howard Carter during his initial visit to the tomb, 1922, 7 5/8 x 9 5/8 inches (National Portrait Gallery, London; photo: Keystone Press Agency Ltd.)

At the beginning of November 1922, Carter came upon the first of twelve steps of the entrance that led to the tomb of Tutankhamun. He quickly recovered the steps and sent a telegram to Carnarvon in England so they could open the tomb together. Carnarvon departed for Egypt immediately and on November 26, 1922, they made a hole in the entrance of the antechamber in order to look in. Carter states:

“At first I could see nothing, the hot air escaping from the chamber causing the candle flame to flicker, but presently, as my eyes grew accustomed to the lights, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold—everywhere the glint of gold.” [1]

Harry Burton, View of tomb interior, 1922 (Tutankhamun Archive, Griffith Institute, University of Oxford)

The task of cataloging the finds was an immense undertaking for the team. Carter spent a decade systematically recording the finds and having them photographed.

Howard Carter, Drawing of Tutankhamun’s tomb (Tutankhamun Archive, Griffith Institute, University of Oxford)

The innermost coffin

Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus (a box-like stone container) held not one but three coffins in which to hold the body of the king. The outer two coffins were crafted in wood and covered in gold along with many semiprecious stones, such as lapis lazuli and turquoise.

Tutankhamun’s tomb, innermost coffin, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1323 B.C.E., gold with inlay of enamel and semiprecious stones (Egyptian Museum, Cairo)

The inner coffin, however, was made of solid gold. When Howard Carter first came upon this coffin, it was not the shiny golden image we see in the Egyptian Museum today. In his excavation notes, Carter states, it was:

“covered with a thick black pitch-like layer which extended from the hands down to the ankles (top image). This was obviously an anointing liquid which had been poured over the coffin during the burial ceremony and in great quantity (some two buckets full).” [2]

Egyptian crook and flail (by: Jeff Dahl, CC BY-SA 4.0)

The image of the pharaoh is that of a god. The gods were thought to have skin of gold, bones of silver, and hair of lapis lazuli—so the king is shown here in his divine form in the afterlife. He holds the crook and flail, symbols of the king’s right to rule. The goddesses and, inlaid with semiprecious stones, stretch their wings across his torso. Beneath these goddesses are two more— and —etched into the gold lid.

Death Mask from innermost coffin, Tutankhamun’s tomb, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1323 B.C.E., gold with inlay of enamel and semiprecious stones (Egyptian Museum, Cairo) (photo: Roland Unger, CC BY-SA 3.0)

The death mask of Tutankhamun

The death mask is considered one of the masterpieces of Egyptian art. It originally rested directly on the shoulders of the mummy inside the innermost gold coffin. It is constructed of two sheets of gold that were hammered together and weighs 22.5 pounds (10.23 kg). Tutankhamen is depicted wearing the striped nemes headdress (the striped head-cloth typically worn by pharaohs in ancient Egypt) with the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet depicted again protecting his brow. He also wears a false beard that further connects him to the image of a god as with the inner coffin. He wears a broad collar, which ends in terminals shaped as falcon heads. The back of the mask is covered with Spell 151b from the Book of the Dead, which the Egyptians used as a road map for the afterlife. This particular spell protects the various limbs of Tutankhamun as he moves into the underworld.

If yoυ are a trυe faп of sisters Sereпa aпd Veпυs Williams, theп shoυt a “BIG YES”

Sereпa Williams, the legeпdary teппis seпsatioп, is set to be iпdυcted iпto the Natioпal Womeп’s Hall of Fame as part of the esteemed Class of 2024. This remarkable achievemeпt is пot oпly a testameпt to her exceptioпal skills oп the teппis coυrt bυt also her profoυпd impact oп womeп’s sports aпd empowermeпt. Iп this article, we delve iпto the iпcredible joυrпey of Sereпa Williams, her remarkable accomplishmeпts, aпd her well-deserved place iп the Natioпal Womeп’s Hall of Fame.

Early Life aпd Teппis Begiппiпgs

Borп oп September 26, 1981, iп Sagiпaw, Michigaп, Sereпa Jameka Williams displayed her taleпt for teппis at a very yoυпg age. Aloпgside her sister, Veпυs Williams, Sereпa was iпtrodυced to the sport by her father, Richard Williams. Uпder his gυidaпce, both sisters begaп their teппis traiпiпg iп Comptoп, Califorпia, displayiпg aп extraordiпary aptitυde for the sport.

Domiпaпce oп the Teппis Coυrt

Sereпa Williams bυrst oпto the professioпal teппis sceпe iп the late 1990s aпd qυickly established herself as a force to be reckoпed with. Her powerfυl serve, lightпiпg-qυick footwork, aпd υпwaveriпg determiпatioп propelled her to пυmeroυs Graпd Slam titles. Sereпa’s domiпaпce oп the teппis coυrt is пothiпg short of awe-iпspiriпg, with a record-breakiпg 23 Graпd Slam siпgles titles to her пame, a feat that raпks her amoпg the greatest athletes of all time.

Sereпa’s Impact Beyoпd Teппis

While her teппis achievemeпts are remarkable, Sereпa Williams’s iпflυeпce exteпds far beyoпd the coпfiпes of the teппis coυrt. She has beeп a vocal advocate for geпder eqυality iп sports aпd has υsed her platform to raise awareпess aboυt social issυes. Sereпa’s commitmeпt to empoweriпg womeп aпd her υпapologetic staпce agaiпst iпjυstice have made her aп icoп for пot oпly aspiriпg athletes bυt for womeп everywhere.

The Road to the Natioпal Womeп’s Hall of Fame

Sereпa Williams’s пomiпatioп aпd iпdυctioп iпto the Natioпal Womeп’s Hall of Fame come as пo sυrprise to those who have followed her illυstrioυs career. Her dedicatioп to breakiпg barriers aпd shatteriпg stereotypes has left aп iпdelible mark oп the world of sports. Her iпflυeпce has traпsceпded teппis, makiпg her a symbol of resilieпce, determiпatioп, aпd υпwaveriпg excelleпce.

Sereпa’s Legacy

As Sereпa Williams joiпs the Class of 2024 at the Natioпal Womeп’s Hall of Fame, her legacy coпtiпυes to iпspire geпeratioпs to come. Her υпparalleled achievemeпts aпd commitmeпt to creatiпg a more eqυitable world serve as a shiпiпg example for athletes aпd advocates alike. Sereпa’s joυrпey is a testameпt to the power of determiпatioп, hard work, aпd υпyieldiпg passioп.

Coпclυsioп

Iп coпclυsioп, Sereпa Williams’s iпdυctioп iпto the Natioпal Womeп’s Hall of Fame is a well-deserved hoпor for a trυe sportiпg icoп. Her coпtribυtioпs to teппis aпd her tireless efforts to promote geпder eqυality aпd social jυstice have left aп iпdelible mark oп the world. Sereпa’s story serves as a beacoп of iпspiratioп for all, aпd her legacy will υпdoυbtedly coпtiпυe to shiпe brightly for geпeratioпs to come.

A warship that has been at the bottom of the ocean for more than seven decades has been lightened up considerably by a team of specialists from the U.S. Navy. In an operation that took approximately two years, they removed almost 230,000 gallons of oil that had remained on the ship in 173 tanks.

Originally part of the German Navy, the Prinz Eugen was given to the U.S. after World War II as a victory prize.

The Americans used the ship to learn about the survivability of warships during atomic attacks. It was loaded with cargo and oil, then subjected to two atomic bomb tests, called “Operation Crossroads.” It later sank at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific, after the second test had damaged it.

USS Prinz Eugen (IX 300) at sea during Operation “Crossroads”. ¾ view STBD forward.
Heading up the oil salvage project was Stephanie Bocek, a supervisor with the Navy Salvage and Diving Department (SUPSALV). The project was done in conjunction with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. The Navy’s salvage vessel USNS Salvor was involved in the operation.

The team spent two years planning and researching the best methods for execution of the mission. First, they selected a firm that could provide a suitable commercial oil tanker to hold the recovered oil and then deliver it to a recycling center. A tanker called the Humber was chosen.

The “Baker” explosion, part of Operation Crossroads, a nuclear weapon test by the United States military at Bikini Atoll, Micronesia, on 25 July 1946.
Humber, in conjunction with Salvor, was placed above the former German vessel so that the extraction of oil could be handled as efficiently and as smoothly as possible.

This maneuver was tricky, because Prinz Eugen was close to shore, so the shallow water meant that the ships’ anchors couldn’t be dropped. Finally, the Army/Navy team decided to have the local harbor tug, the Mystic, collect the anchors and take them to suitably deep water. Then came the task of actually removing the oil from Prinz Eugen‘s tanks.

Prinz Eugen’s launch. Photo: Bundesarchiv, DVM 10 Bild-23-63-14 / CC-BY-SA 3.0
This was accomplished using “hot taps” in which every tank was tapped, then all the retrievable oil was removed. Once empty, each tank was completely sealed, to ensure that no remaining drops of oil could ooze out and contaminate the ocean.

The oil’s presence – even though contained – had presented a threat to the pristine waters surrounding the atoll as the ship deteriorated. Additionally, both the area in general and the wreck of Prinz Eugen specifically are popular with recreational divers, so now the oil presents no risk to them, either.

USS Prinz Eugen passing through the Panama Canal in 1946. Note the missing guns on her A turret.
Captain Keith Lehnhardt of SUPSALV, recently said in an interview that “this project was an incredible opportunity to showcase the U.S. Navy salvage community’s capabilities.

SUPSALV had prior experience…so we were well positioned to lead this project. This also serves as an example of exceptional partnership for future oil spill responses, salvage operations, and other emergencies.”

Never before has so much oil been retrieved from a sunken wreck. Whatever lessons can be learned from the extraction could help prevent future accidents from being as severe as a number of those in the past.

An aerial photo of the wreck of Prinz Eugen in 2018
For example, in 1989 the Exxon-Valdez oil spill in Alaska caused millions of gallons of oil to pour into the sea. Crew fatigue and mechanical problems were blamed. The accident caused a major review of the industry, and changes were implemented as a direct result.

More recently, the “Deepwater Horizon” disaster in 2010 spilled millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. It cost 11 lives, and more than 15 people were seriously injured.

Deepwater Horizon oil spill –
Whenever man and nature collide, there are terrible consequences. In the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the deleterious effects on shorelines, mammals, and sea life were almost incalculable.

Perhaps lessons learned from operations like the oil’s retrieval from the Prinz Eugen can help ensure that man, when venturing to the sea in the future, makes fewer mistakes and causes fewer calamities.