Exploring Prinz Eugen Part 2

2014 underwater video of the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, which foundered in Kwajalein Atoll in 1946 after the Bikini Atoll tests.

[@naturtechnikfreund]

These pictures remind me of my aunt, who always went into a storage room during lightning and thunder and waited there until it was over. At some point I asked my other aunt why she was so scared of it. She told me when they fled from the eastern territories to west Germany in January / February 1945, they waited a few days in Gotenhafen (Gdynia) for the refugee ships. The Prince Eugen crossed there near the coast and shot at Russian targets ashore. It was such a terrible noise that she never forgot in her life and always reminded her of the terrible events of that time (she was a child of 4 years). This has always touched me a lot and I am very grateful that I am allowed to live in peace, which unfortunately is not possible for many people.

[@thebes118]

It's a shame she and Nagato were not kept as museum ships. At least I have them both in World of Warships :)

[@mustard4762]

At least they didnt end up in scrap yards

[@knightsofthewicked9121]

Not historically accurate versions in World Of Warships

[@Astrostevo]

She was contaminated by radiation after being used in early A -Bomb tests so probably best bnot though seems she's cooled down enough now. Don't know about the Nagato. A few museum ships fromthe time would be good though don't know of any. But doesn't the USA still have battleships of that era or maybe just a bit later still serving if memories of an old Steven Seagal movie are anything to go by? (Which may well not be and might be out of date now.)

[@simonm1447]

@@Astrostevo The Iowa class battleships were retired in the mid 90s. They kept it very long, but they didn't scrap them, all of them are museum ships now. The Prinz Eugen sank because it was leaking at the propeller shaft after the nuclear tests, and it was too contaminated to get repaired. It was originally not intended to sink her.

[@a36538]

That game is a ruse

[@felixcat9318]

This is the one of the most exciting and interesting wreck interior dives that I have ever seen! Each time I saw an open hatch or a dark corridor and thought "I wonder what's down there", the courageous diver explored them! It certainly takes courage to dive into the interior of such a devastated wreck, laying inverted with utter disruption within and rusting, unrecognisable parts overhead. A sad end to any ship, but a fascinating dive journey thanks to the professionalism and courage of the videographer divers! Subscribed. I enjoyed the soundtrack accompanying the dive, it felt right.

[@shanemize3775]

Wow! It amazes me that you were able to go so deep into the hull as you were. That was fascinating! The video was beautiful and music really adds to the enjoyment of it. Really well done! It is mind boggling that she was not taken into the United States Navy or kept as a museum ship. She was a magnificent and mighty warship. Thanks so much for sharing these two videos of your adventures with us all. Please keep the outstanding videos coming and God bless you, my friend!

[@keighlancoe5933]

There's a reason both Britain and America didn't bother to requisition any German warships, essentially its very difficult to keep them maintained as they have very specific and unique working parts that are quite different to British or American vessels so maintaining it would be difficult, training sailors how to operate the ship is even harder as you'd essentially have to train them in a completely new and different way to what they're used to. Long story short it would be a massive ball ache.

[@allaboutboats]

Since the Prinz Eugen was turned over to the USN at the end of the war as a war prize and then subsequently used as an atomic bomb test subject ship, it spent several months at Norfolk and Pearl harbor awaiting the tests, during that time I am sure the US Navy went through the ship and removed anything of value and seriously doubt they would have left an Enigma Machine just laying around the hulk before it was sunk as a target. The ship withstood the atom bomb tests and was towed to its present location in hopes of fixing leaks so it wouldn't sink, but it was leaking too much so they just let it sink up next to the shore.

[@nerblebun]

Jerry Gilmartin: After the test, the Prinz was towed to Kwajalein & tied to the dock while they sprayed her top to bottom with fire hoses...it was their belief at the time it would decontaminate the vessel. While tied to the dock, the Prinz started taking on water & listing to one side. An attempt was made to tow the ship out to sea, but before they could reach the pass it was listing so badly they just cut her loose in front of Carlton Island where she rests today. I dove the Prince many times in the late 80's-early 90's. The Grandmother of a couple of my Marshallese buds, Boris & Robin, owned Carlton Island. Was also lucky enough to dive Bikini long before it opened up for sports diving & actually stood on the deck of the USS Saratoga (CV-3).

[@Imik_Officials]

In fact, the Prinz Eugen was too radioactive to be repaired or approached due to the high radioactivity into its hull, so they just let it sink...

[@AndrewAustinFrustrated]

By the end of the war the allies had quite a few enigma encoders I doubt anyone bothered with any left on the ship.

[@crazybrit-nasafan]

I remember building a model kit of this ship when I was a kid. Amazing that it survives in such good shape, especially considering its post war use in a nuclear test.

[@simonm1447]

The nuclear test didn't damage her badly, but she took water through the propeller shaft and was too contaminated to get repaired. The main reason the US took the ship was to prevent the Soviet Union to get her.

[@Stratman20928]

Sadly the us never meant to sink her and did try to beach her after the a-bomb test but sadly that failed

[@trevortaylor244]

Well done sirs! Super dangerous but some great explorers here!

[@stufields5125]

We dove on the Prince Eugen a couple of times during my duty at the Kwajalein Missile Range. We have slides and videos somewhere. We were told, never got to see it, that one person took a complete dinner set complete with swastikas off the boat. I was told that it was against the rules to penetrate the Eugen. We were approached to do some UW photos by a group that wanted to do some salvage. We bought wide angle lens and strobes and UW video equipment in prep. We were told the RMI government killed the project before any real activity got underway.

[@shinkicker404]

surprised the American soldiers left such a dinner set around and not loot it.

[@violetbrown3817]

Love watching the videos. Am glad someone can find lost ships and explore them. To give someone like me a visual picture. Who is chicken to even fly.

[@Robert53area]

@@robertrusnak620 no, it isnt deep enough for diving, as long as you ran enriched oxygen. The problem is the ship is highly radioactive and so is the water

[@babyyoda3497]

@@Robert53area It isn't anymore

[@gregsnyder8392]

That was a great video and something you'll never see without your efforts.Thank you very much was really cool watching it.

[@chuckvan1568]

It's sad the Prinze Eugen wasn't kept as a war trophy and preserved as a War museum for the US along with the Nagato. I understand it takes a lot of funds, but that can be provided by public tours. I've been on several battleships, a carrier, destroyer, and a couple of submarines. I enjoyed them all and intend to visit more.

[@simonm1447]

It was a modern ship with a welded construction, so they were interested how such a ship performs in a nuclear explosion. At the time this was more important for the military than the ship itself. They also only took it to the US because they didn't want it in the hands of the Soviets.

[@gibsonfenderbacker2374]

Nagato was in pretty rough shape by the end of the war .

[@J.A.Hansen]

So at.least after als these battles the Prince Eugen became ,.........a peaceful ship,by being a home for all those fishes and plants under Water. Shes Lyin not too deep in the water and it is not to dark,while the Sun still reach her hull.. Very good👍

[@daviscampbell9020]

Rest in peace KMS Prinz Eugen.

[@A_p_T53040]

Germans didn't use kms. Only sms ww1 and before.

[@f..4269]

Принц Ойген,покойся спокойно🙏

[@ginskimpivot753]

Fortunately, audio mute works great on this video.

[@wirelessone2986]

I like to hear diving bubbles myself

[@DBT1007]

@@wirelessone2986 I also love the natural sounds. But not the music. Please mute the music. That's what this comment meant.

[@FinnborgBraga]

Replaces a previous version, which KZbin seems to have taken a dislike to.

[@greatwhite66]

FinnborgBraga i

[@gabrielmiller668]

If I had the chance I would resurface it and fix her up and turn it into a museum

[@ArcticuKitsu]

I agree, though wish that was possible. You would have to do severe amounts of restoration, and etc, just to make it "presentable". I however do agree though......If there is a way without cutting her up, sure.

[@peterson7082]

@@ArcticuKitsu While most radiation has been dissipated, the stern can be a trouble area. Her hull probably wouldn't last being turned over.

[@ArcticuKitsu]

@@peterson7082 True, I guess. Would make sense for how long she's been under like that..... I wonder if there would be a way to re-reinforce her hull from the inside to allow her to be upright, and etc. I don't know, I'm no expert. The best I can do is speculate and ponder....

[@daitzgonzaga7407]

Don't forget about the rust too, that'll be a tough part to do

[@A_p_T53040]

It's a nice dream, but a dream is all it is. It would never survive being turned back over without crumbling. It'll be easier and cheaper to build it brand new

[@sc1338]

Remember people no one thought of saving her in the day. She was just another ship of the enemy. I think now this wouldn’t happen but it probably would.

[@petemoss8625]

I typed """Diving Graf Spee""" and got this! But I have enjoyed watching this excellent vid.

[@Seadog..C5]

They have the music loud so you won't hear the Geiger counters😎

[@RRankin29]

This is going to sound weird, but if you’re on a cell phone I highly encourage you to watch the video upside down

[@stevegant7856]

This video made me feel a little more Closter phobic than the others. You do NOT want to kick up to much setimate and get lost in there. I've done wreck diving before, but those are some tight quarters and nothing like this! Awesome video, you guys know what you're doing!

[@nerblebun]

steve gant: As a matter of fact, when I was working on Kwajalein & diving the Prinz in the 80's, two of our co-workers decided to explore inside the ship. Unfortunately, they failed to take a wire reel with them to guide their way out & got lost in the passageways where they ran out of air. I was on the SAR Team (Search and Rescue). We staged tanks along the way & were on our 2nd tank of air when we finally found their bodies about 250ft. into the ship after searching through several open passages. The sediment was awful. Could barely see your hand in front of your face.

[@stevegant7856]

@Grandpa Grey, wreck diving can be very harry, and as Dirty Harry said, "A mans got to know his limitations." I dove a frigate in Cayman Brac, but it was nothing like the Prinz! What you did would scare the shit out of me!

[@Dollsofgod]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Itsumi0000]

And yeah that is she now

[@lindalakota38]

The dive camera is nuts with antena lights

[@bellerophonchallen8861]

Shame she wasn't preserved, but the use of captured Japanese and German ships as targets sent a message after the defeat of those countries. The real shame was scrapping Iron Duke at the end of the war, Warspite a bit later, and, most tragic, Goeben. We have to go to Japan to see a per-dreadnought, Mikasa, saved by General McArthur, the Shogun after the war, as the American political system wanted to destroy her because of her 'military message'. America to see a dreadnought, Texas, and America for WW2 battleships. We've still got the light cruiser Caroline, as the only remaining ship that was at Jutland, and Belfast, but they're nothing compared to having a proper battleship to visit.

[@reymcdonald1743]

Should be recovered if not to late as history for the future generations

[@kristiantofte1020]

It would be cool seeing the footage of the engine room upside down, to make more sense of the layout there :) Nice video

[@FinnborgBraga]

You just need to watch it whilst standing on your head...

[@kristiantofte1020]

@@FinnborgBraga 🤣 mind blown

[@tulsatrash]

What music did you use for this video? I like it.

[@FinnborgBraga]

It is the SmartSound track "Border Conflict" from their album "Narration Backgrounds II".

[@matthewmiller648]

Notice all of the copper and brass fixtures are missing throughout such a historic ship ?

[@shinkicker404]

Probably looted by soldiers. Grandfather was at PNG, and told us how after the war ended and everyone was going home how they just looted bits and pieces from everywhere. Brass and copper out of planes and vehicles, that were just pushed into the sea was one of the stories. Grandfather was a plumber by trade too, and had requests for help from even senior officers (like either ship or fleet commanders), to square things away (or repair in the case of one speed boat) to take home.

[@yates656]

Wouldn't this wreck still be highly radioactive?

[@shinkicker404]

The water would shield a lot of it, but going around and peeling paint and stuff off would probably release radioactive material. But it'd be a lot safer than it was back in the 40's.

[@Slaktrax]

Wonder if this could be re-floated...

[@jonnybalz]

The only video of the Bismarck firing her guns at the Hood was taken from aboard this ship.

[@thecamocampaindude5167]

Mr Beast should a recovery program to bring in out of the water, or just build a up to scale replica of the ship

[@jimasanza2214]

12:17 is that an enigma machine?

[@vonjager]

No. Standard Zeisse Typewriter.

[@thra5herxb12s]

Typewriter.

[@jaycooper2812]

That was a Ziesse typewriter of 1920s vintage. There could very well have been an enigma machine aboard though, by 1946 the secerets of enigma were well known as the Allies had enigma machines captured since U110 was sunk in late 1942. The allies were reading the Uboat wolfpack codes since british sailors boarded U 110 after she was fatally damaged by depth charges. The Allies also had a complete enigma from when the U.S. Navy captured U 505. They also had all of the German U boat naval codes starting in 1943. The Germans actually made it easier for tha Allies by not properly using enigma as they used the same setting every day when varying the daily settings on the machine would have super encripted their messsges. If they had done so the Uboat losses would have been greatly reduced. Some say that losses could have been 1/2 of what they were if enigma was used properly. Also the enigma machine was developed by a Dutch engineer who eventually was able to escape the Nazis and get to England. He helped the British to break the U boat codes before they captured an enigma machine.

[@vonjager]

No. This isn't hollywood.

[@geoffroberts1126]

@@jaycooper2812 Hmm, well, partly correct. The early work on cracking the Enigma was done by the Poles, much of it before the war. The 'bombe' machines used to search for daily keys at Bletchley was based on the original Polish version. The Brits had Enigma machines almost from the beginning, the Poles game them at least one and they built others themselves once they worked out the details. The Poles did some real cloak and dagger stuff to get an early Enigma. The significance of U110 was not that they captured a Naval Enigma (which had some significant differences from the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe versions) as they already knew enough about it to build their own, but that they captured the codebooks with the daily keys etc valid for the duration of U110s patrol. So they had a free shot at it for most of two months. When that ran out, there was a period where they had very little insight into it - it took some time before they penetrated it again. I have no idea where the story about a Dutch engineer came from, but it's not true. Enigma was invented by a German, Arthur Scherbius, and he most certainly did not go to England and help the Brits break the U boat codes as he was killed in a horse carriage accident in 1929. The Brits built on the earlier work of the Poles and were able to penetrate most Enigma codes with varying degrees of success (The Kriegsmarine codes were particularly difficult and the Naval Enigma had six wheels, using four at a time and the operators were more careful with procedures - poor procedure by some Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe operators helped create 'cribs' that helped penetrate the daily key) through the war and was helped by the bigger, faster, variants of the original Polish bombe (built in secret under the code name 'Cantab' by the British Tabulating Machine Company at Letchworth in England) and later, to crack the much harder Geheimschrieber that was used by the High Command, the so called 'Fish' machines, the Colossus computer, in which Alan Turing had a major role was developed. Oh and the capture of U505 was only a few days before D-Day in 1944 so the Brits had plenty of Enigmas long before then, but as with U110, her codebooks provided entry to the Kriegsmarine code system.

[@Robert53area]

Brave, I wouldn't go anywhere near that ship without a lead suit

[@enalche2]

It has no longer radiation so its safe

[@thecamocampaindude5167]

@Alonso Lopez Moreno we all have radiation around us , its just that we adapted to the levels, and the ship was no longer considered a health risk because the radiation levels slowly decreased within acceptable levels so dont worry

[@bobcohoon9615]

Always wonder what would happen if a scraper is used on the surfaces, would all the crud come off ?

[@FinnborgBraga]

Scraping the surface of artefacts runs the risk of damaging them. The usual way of cleaning porcelain/ crockery, if the glazing is ok, is an acid dip which dissolves off the carbonaceous 'crud'.

[@markbowles2382]

now go and do yourself a favor and read about this great ship and her many exploits in battle, she was quite a fighter, thank you so much for sharing your dangerous undersea adventure through her bowels & innards with we landlubbers.=

[@craigfazekas3923]

For my money, The Battle of the River Plate by Dudley Pope is a great start. Superb writing & excellent overview to this marauding commerce raider & warship.

[@zzirSnipzz1]

@@craigfazekas3923 But that was Admiral graff spee not Eugens

[@michaelcuff5780]

Awesome! Thanks so much!

[@lukasito100]

Pity that Nobody had the Idea to salvage a gun turret or two for display at some museum. I think its no more strongly radioactive.

[@markholle3450]

The US did remove one of the turrets for study when it was brought to the US after the war. No idea of what they did with it.

[@sc1338]

The us navy removed a propeller and sent it to Germany for a memorial

[@alipiotrindade1989]

Ops, alguém esqueceu aquela torneira aberta. 😂

[@Itsumi0000]

Why america not place this on museum

[@ammoalamo6485]

captivating music.

[@juliusraben3526]

That music... goddang, from what game ?? Dejavu is kicking me so hard that i cant remember

[@FinnborgBraga]

Its no game! It is the track 'Border Conflict' from the Smartsound album 'Narration Backgrounds II'.

[@juliusraben3526]

@@FinnborgBraga i showed this clip to a friend. The Settlers of Catan app uses the same music. So, technically not from a game. But thats how i know it haha

[@kleeree]

is the water 31degrees hot?O.O

[@FinnborgBraga]

Yes... 31 degrees centigrade. A lot warmer than the English Channel.

[@knightsofthewicked9121]

Yeah,but that place is radioactive ☢️

[@HorribleHarry]

I just need one tiny little piece…

[@Wanous-hv7zo]

What are we looking at? The plant life or the ship?

[@kierbelardo2056]

How Did Prize Eugen Sink In World War 2 Ang How Did The Germans Lost Another's Ship For Their Own

[@basementkidd6818]

Kier Belardo It didn’t sink during WW2 The Royal Navy took it after Germany’s defeat and gave it to the US as a war prize, so they used the boat for nuclear tests, after the ship survived the bomb, it was taken for repair where it is right now but it was to late for it and they let it sink. I actually feel a bit sad for it, a boat that did so much during WW2 and just used for atomic bomb tests in the US

[@Hadduck]

It would have been scrapped anyways if it didn't sink.

[@sc1338]

@@basementkidd6818 they tried to beach it to prevent from sinking.

[@xXE4GLEyEXx]

31 centigrade for the temperature of the water? WTF!? (or that is outside temp?)

[@FinnborgBraga]

The air, the sea, the rain - everything is at 29 to 31 degrees centigrade in that part of the Pacific.

[@xXE4GLEyEXx]

wow! never knew that! thanks! it is interesting

[@flipjenl9616]

The wreck isn't radioactive anymore?

[@FinnborgBraga]

The wreck is quite safe to dive. But I wouldn't go and eat the paint...

[@davidwillow6933]

They old rope guides, ?

[@highlysuggestible861]

The things people do to each other because we don't know how to live in peace.

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

Should have been returned to Germany and preserved as a museum ship,

[@modrzey_]

Nice Video

[@НикИванов-ф2к]

What level of radiation is there?

[@FinnborgBraga]

Its well within safe limits, as the ocean currents have 'washed' the wreck for over 70 years now.

[@MrRockydee07]

Why not any fish. ?

[@lloydisaacs415]

Water to hot

[@lloydisaacs415]

Water is to warm

[@Stellar12316]

Are any sailors from this ship still alive?

[@babyyoda3497]

The USA had the Prinz Eugen after the WW2. They called it USS(🤢) Prinz Eugen and it was part of a bomb testing. So the crew probably didn't died on the Prinz Eugen.

[@twinturbo8304]

Wonder who’s idea it was to destroy a beautiful ship with a stupid bum test. Some fat ass general sitting behind a desk that never did a days work in his life

[@1949rangerrick]

My dad was part of the American crew that brought the Prinz Eugen down through the Panama Canal and over to the Bikini Atol. They told the crew they could take momento war prizes when they left the ship at anchor. He brought back a beautiful gimbal candlestick holder and a machinery name plate. They hang proudly on my wall. Dad says it was a very well built ship. He served on the Battleship USS Colorado all during the war. RIP Dad.

[@mcduck5]

@@twinturbo8304 It was a vulgar display of power. Pree WW2 Uss navada was one of the most revered ships in the world. They made a statement by showing the power of the new weapons over all of the old world order.

[@joeschlotthauer840]

And I thought it was sunk in WWII...

[@enalche2]

Just after...

[@simonm1447]

Operation Crossroads

[@kx-035]

俺もここに行きたい

[@thecamocampaindude5167]

#recovertheprinceeugen

[@LCMNUNES1962]

ÓTIMO MERGULHO NO EUGÊNIO PRINCES, BRASIL OK.

[@tank2003ful]

What are the radiation levels on that ship now?

[@FinnborgBraga]

Extremely low, it has been 'washed' by the sea for over 70 years. On Bikini island itself, which suffered several series of tests but was 'cleaned' with the topsoil replaced, the background radiation is now less than for mainland USA - just don't eat anything grown there as plant roots will pull up radioactive stuff from deep in the soil.

[@basementkidd6818]

FinnborgBraga Wow that’s pretty scary Do you have to have acces or a permit or something to go inside the ship, or any diving team can go? Im interested in visiting the ship

[@enalche2]

@Hal 9000 as Dyatlov said

[@chrisjung3538]

Good job.

[@reymcdonald1743]

Also admiral scheer

[@marktellez9719]

Good video lousy music

[@robertodaniel6320]

lamentablemente este barco fue desmantelado antes de hundirlo, de hecho no hay nada que sea reconocible. una pena.

[@kennethdavidii2734]

So the ship belongs to the USN. What about salvage rights? There is a lot of steel laying there wasting away.

[@FinnborgBraga]

A lot of radioactive steel, in a US missile test base...

[@geroldwenisch8839]

.....the only thing the zionistic USA-slavery nation is to bring war to other nations....every time. Stealing oil and knowlegde for the own financial elites. And the American-nation deliver tousand of young man as gunpowder for this ass.....les. Remember what Patton said 😉

[@babyyoda3497]

It is a German ship. It's the Prinz Eugen and not USS Prinz Eugen.

[@sc1338]

@@babyyoda3497 it’s American now. Perks of being a victor

[@SimpleJack-mc4cg]

lymphoma is not a super power.

[@kenshaw1964]

I'm sure it was exciting for the divers,but without illustration or narration I got zip out of this,some crappy drama music..

[@apoldadobermann8407]

Schickt sie wieder nach Deutschland zurück.

[@peterkemna1008]

Und dann? Keine Werft, und keine Stiftung würde es übernehmen das Ding wieder aufzubauen. Die würden es eher in den Hochofen schieben. Also lass sie da. Manchmal ist es besser einen Abgang mit Würde und Geheimnissen hinzunehmen

[@lordthiberussolar4739]

Poor cruiser to finish like that .

[@Helloworldwrjfjrjrj]

30c at 30metres

[@mii3039]

Oh Its upside down lol

[@PRR5406]

Shipwrecks, as a rule, fascinate me. In this particular case, I see a machine of death which has been rather stupidly allowed to foul a marine environment. Has the fuel oil been removed from this wreck? I would like to see it removed and salvaged for its metals. As a resource, it's not worth the expense.

[@caroltenge5147]

Loaded with a shipment of those $600.00 toilet seats.

[@X_R41D3N]

Previously on azur lane: exploring Prinze eugens dead body