The Navy is partnering with the University of Delaware to survey the wreck of a World War I U.S. Navy cruiser that sunk off the coast of New York in 1918.
The cause of the ship’s wreck is still a mystery. But University of Delaware Oceanography Professor Art Trembanis says there are some clues.
“The official reports are not exactly conclusive as to whether it was a torpedo from a German U-boat (a German submarine) or a contact mine," said Trembanis.
Trembanis says UD is helping the Navy get to the bottom of that mystery using the university’s research vessel, sonar systems and UD students.
“If this is sort of Cinderella going to the ball, we’re bringing the carriage, we’re bringing the mice, we’re bringing the stage driver and then at the end we’re actually building the road as we go," Trambanis said.
A key part of their work will be using robots and other equipment to help map out the shipwreck.
“It’s the kind of thing that we do almost day in and day out for a variety of applications," Trambanis said. "Whether we’re mapping wind farm areas off Delaware or searching for unexploded ordinances or trying to map coral reefs….”
Trembanis adds the scans will allow Navy allow weapons experts to piece together the cause of the ship’s sinking.
UD students plan to start their work analyzing the ship next week, weather depending. The project is expected to last six days.
