One of Sir John Franklin's ships found

[llarian]

I'm kind of surprised this wasn't added sooner, but:

After being lost in Canada's Arctic for 167 years, one of the two ships that carried Sir John Franklin and his crews on their ill-fated mission of exploration has finally been found.

http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/franklin-expedition/

Whether the ship is the Erebus or the Terror, these vessels were the Space Shuttles of their day.

 

[Andy44]

That sonar photo is so cool.

 

[llarian]

That sonar photo is so cool.

Yep. Couldn't believe it when I first saw it. Then again, the wreck is sitting in only 11m of water.

The Arctic keeps such wrecks in pretty much pristine condition as the day they went down. The Breadalbane, The Investigator look just like they could float away today.

The "Search for Franklin" has been a continuing interest of mine since back in elementary school (don't ask how many years). I never thought that anything would be found in my lifetime. It is a real joy to see this dream start to be realized.

 

[Urwumpe]

That sonar photo is so cool.

There are more cool ships to take sonar images from. :lol:

http://www.dir-austria.com/index.cfm?seite=graf-zeppelin1

 

[ex-orbinaut]

I'm kind of surprised this wasn't added sooner, but:

After being lost in Canada's Arctic for 167 years, one of the two ships that carried Sir John Franklin and his crews on their ill-fated mission of exploration has finally been found.

http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/franklin-expedition/

Oh, cool. It is the first I have heard of the discovery. Thanks. It is in my line of historic interest, too. One of the less remembered leaders of ill-fated expeditions of the same ilk of the later Scott and Shackleton. Wonder which of the vessels it is?

Whether the ship is the Erebus or the Terror, these vessels were the Space Shuttles of their day.

Well, I know what you mean; exploration-wise. The ships themselves were not really forefront technology even then, though. However, you will already know that.

Thanks again!

 

[llarian]

By the end of their service the Space Shuttles were not exactly cutting edge technology either. Lifetime was pretty much the same for all of the vessels.

The Erebus and Terror had been purpose built bomb ships, the toughest of their day, and had seen combat. They were then refitted for Polar duty and had spent time in the Antarctic before their last mission.

Here is the first video of the site, taken from the discovery AUV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3IuUspyhpo&feature=youtu.be

 

[ex-orbinaut]

The Erebus and Terror had been purpose built bomb ships, the toughest of their day, and had seen combat. They were then refitted for Polar duty and had spent time in the Antarctic before their last mission.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3IuUspyhpo&feature=youtu.be

Indeed, even two volcanoes named after them in Antarctica. That's a rare privilege for ships.

Great video!

 

[llarian]

It's the Erebus !!

Update released today:

http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/fr...s-identify-of-found-Franklin-ship-article.asp

I would have bet that it would have been HMS Terror. Still good news. I bet there will be a wealth of information coming in the next few years from this ship. She was the expedition's flagship.