MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Paul Allen using huge private yacht to recover sunken history

Aug 23, 2012, 6:14 AM | Updated: 12:28 pm

cedargrove
Allen’s team arrived at the site above the HMS Hood on Thursday. (Image courtesy Twitter)

It’s not so bad being a billionaire-playboy-renaissance man of adventure. Microsoft’s Paul Allen is using his abundance of resources for some pretty spectacular quests.

In his latest, Allen is sending his 400-foot yacht, the Octopus, to salvage a bell from British warship the HMS Hood that was sunk by Hitler.

On Thursday, Allen tweeted they’d arrived at the dive location above the wreckage of the HMS Hood in the Denmark Straight.

“Arrived Hood location, hopefully seas remain calm enough to launch ROV.”

In 1941, the British ship was sent to stop Germany’s Bismarck before it could break out into the Atlantic where it planned to attack Allied convoys.

But between Greenland and Iceland, the Bismarck struck first, hitting the battlecruiser with German shells, causing it to explode. The ship sank in just three minutes, and resulted in the biggest single loss of lives, 1,418 officers and crew, in the Royal Navy’s history.

The Daily Mail reports the wreck is a protected war grave, but Allen has obtained permission from the British government for the expedition.

If recovery of the 110 pound bell is successful, it will go to Navy’s National Museum in Portsmouth.

A remotely operated vehicle is diving to the location from Allen’s yacht to retrieve the bell. Allen reported the ROV was in the water as of Thursday morning.

He has tweeted several updates on the mission’s progress:

11:56am: Recovering ROV to fix issues…another dive in a few hours hopefully, we did verify we are on the right spots and saw pieces of HMS Hood.

8:20am: Re-positioning ROV due to strong current. Me, David Mearns, Innes McCartney, Philip Wilcocks with a model of the Hood.

4:30am: “ROV now has sea bed in view depth 2849 Meters….small starfish and urchins on the bottom.”

3:30am: ROV control room. ROV now at 1525 M, more than half way there, another hour to bottom.

2:30am: ROV enters the waters of the Denmark straight a half hour ago.

2:20am: ROV sub camera launched now at 250M two hours until bottom of HMS hood resting place.

You can follow the progress of the mission live on Allen’s twitter account.

By BILL RADKE

MyNorthwest News

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

1 hour ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

2 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

3 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

6 hours ago

Kia Boys...

Kate Stone and Bill Kaczaraba

‘Kia Boyz’ allegedly execute a crime spree in south King County

Renton police chased down a 14-and 16-year-old but are still looking for two other teen suspects in what they said was a "crime spree" in south King County.

7 hours ago

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

8 hours ago

Paul Allen using huge private yacht to recover sunken history