General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Re: Italian sub at Portland Maine ???
Posted by:
Simon Gunson
()
Date: April 04, 2006 09:24AM
Thanks Paul, I was just curious if you lived anywhere near France, because the U-180 transport u-boat in the Gironde Estury near Bordeaux probably has the strongest likelihood of proof of Uranium shipments by U-boat. To my knowledge the wreck has never been located but the water there is relatively shallow.
The Uranium carried by U-234 was in mine shafts which were emptied as far as I can tell at a drydock in South Portland, prior to her arrival at Portsmouth New Hampshire.
There is something like 40 tons discrepancy in cargo weight between the cargo manifest at Keil in March 1945 and the manifest compiled at Portsmouth NH by the US Navy.
The content was just likely un-enriched uranium oxide which has some radioactivity, most of which would be absorbed by the U238. The Gold cladding inside a lead sheath was enough to prevent much radioactivity leaking from her cargo. Gold absorbs neutrons.
My understanding is that a metalurgist might detect changes in metal crystals from radiation, but realistically you would need to cut out chunks of thick steel from the mine shaft walls, at 600ft depth and that assumes they are not already degraded by rust after 60 odd years.
UIT-24 or UIT-25 in Sudo Sound, Japan are more accessable and may equally have carried Uranium from Singapore to Japan.
I suggest looking for U-180 Paul. Get some funding from National Geographic and make a TV documentary.
The Uranium carried by U-234 was in mine shafts which were emptied as far as I can tell at a drydock in South Portland, prior to her arrival at Portsmouth New Hampshire.
There is something like 40 tons discrepancy in cargo weight between the cargo manifest at Keil in March 1945 and the manifest compiled at Portsmouth NH by the US Navy.
The content was just likely un-enriched uranium oxide which has some radioactivity, most of which would be absorbed by the U238. The Gold cladding inside a lead sheath was enough to prevent much radioactivity leaking from her cargo. Gold absorbs neutrons.
My understanding is that a metalurgist might detect changes in metal crystals from radiation, but realistically you would need to cut out chunks of thick steel from the mine shaft walls, at 600ft depth and that assumes they are not already degraded by rust after 60 odd years.
UIT-24 or UIT-25 in Sudo Sound, Japan are more accessable and may equally have carried Uranium from Singapore to Japan.
I suggest looking for U-180 Paul. Get some funding from National Geographic and make a TV documentary.