North Sea divers find WW2 shipwreck that kept burning

Tidal Divers above the Lotte Halm (Gezeitentaucher)
Tidal Divers above the Lotte Halm (Gezeitentaucher)

What had long been assumed to be a submarine wreck has been identified by German North Sea wreck-diving group Tidal Divers as a steamer called the Lotte Halm, which had its combustible cargo set alight by British bombers during WW2.

The group has now produced a detailed report on the ship they found last October, when members dived to investigate a mark almost 40km north of Nordeney on Germany’s North Sea coast.

Tidal Divers' North Sea RIB equipped with sidescan sonar ran out from Norddeich harbour (Tidal Divers)
Tidal Divers' RIB equipped with sidescan sonar (Die Gezeitentaucher)

Lying about 35m deep, it had been classified on nautical charts as a submarine by the German Federal Maritime & Hydrographic Agency (BSH), so the divers were surprised to find instead an iron steamship. 

The stern section lay on its starboard side as far back as the boiler-room, while the rest of the vessel was inverted. The four-bladed port iron propeller was exposed and the starboard screw lay half-buried in silt. 

Port propeller on the Lotte Halm (Gezeitentaucher)
Port propeller on the Lotte Halm (Die Gezeitentaucher)
Wreck details (Gezeitentaucher)
Wreck details (Die Gezeitentaucher)

The rudder blade was missing, though the hinges on the sternpost were visible, and the two triple-expansion steam engines lay about 9m from there, while the port boiler lay on its side 15m from the stern. The steel mast protruded from beneath the wreck amidships.

3D wreck model

The team, which is led by experienced wreck researcher Holger Buss, recorded the wreck in detail so that a photogrammetric 3D model could be produced. They then compared the results with records of the many ships that had gone missing in the area. 

Photogrammetric 3D model of the Lotte Halm (Gezeitentaucher)
Photogrammetric 3D model of the Lotte Halm (Die Gezeitentaucher)

Based on the wreck’s 71m length, the design of its engine, which matched data held by Lloyds of London, and the memorable description of the sinking in war diaries, the team’s early guess that this could be the Lotte Halm was confirmed. 

Although the ship had sunk during WW2 it had been built as an oil tanker for the German Navy early in WW1. She was later converted into a cargo ship but was given the Lotte Halm name only in 1927, after being acquired by a Cologne shipping company.

North Sea: The Lotte Halm (Gezeitentaucher)
The Lotte Halm (Die Gezeitentaucher)

On 14 August, 1941, the ship was carrying timber from Sundsvall in Sweden to Papenburg in Germany. From Cuxhaven she had been ordered by the Kriegsmarine to follow a Norwegian cargo ship, the Marvel, and the two vessels had then hit a storm. 

Three Bristol Blenheim light bombers from RAF Watton in Norfolk attacked them using incendiary bombs at 6.45pm, causing a series of structural explosions on the Lotte Halm and her timber cargo to catch fire, as well as the deaths of four of the crew.

The other seven, including Captain Josef Bielsky, got clear on a life-raft and were picked up by the Marvel and taken to the island of Borkum.

Still burning

Meanwhile the minehunter M572, patrol boat V1105 and tug Atlantic spent the night and the next day trying to extinguish the fire on the now-anchored Lotte Halm so that the ship could be towed to harbour. 

The following evening they abandoned the struggle and attempts were made instead to scuttle the ship through shelling and depth charges. She had drifted away, still burning, though the next day her mast and a cargo boom were spotted. 

Four minesweepers used sonar to search unsuccessfully for the wreckage over the next six days, after which it was decided that the Lotte Halm no longer posed any danger to navigation.

YouTube video
(Die Gezeitentaucher)

Tidal Divers found the ship using their RIB equipped with sidescan sonar out from Norddeich harbour. The team of nine dived using nitrox twin-sets in DIR configuration. 

Also on Divernet: Is toxic Nazi VP-boat wreck tip of an iceberg?, 100 best UK wreck dives, 20 best wreck dives in the world

@timpell49
#AskMark Mark great video love your content I recently had my cylinder hydro tested it was filled with air how long can you keep the air in the cylinder before you use it .Also dive shop can drain the air and fill with nitrox?
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@timpell49
#AskMark Mark great video love your content I recently had my cylinder hydro tested it was filled with air how long can you keep the air in the cylinder before you use it .Also dive shop can drain the air and fill with nitrox?
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

GEAR PURCHASES: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

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YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS41ODI2RjhGOTVBODI2NDE5

How Long Can You Keep Air in a Cylinder? #AskMark #scubadiving

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00:00 Introduction
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07:06 Mediterranean
07:34 ADEX
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09:36 MIDE
10:06 GO Diving ANZ
11:09 Diving Talks
11:58 DEMA

Full List of Dive Shows with Links:
https://divernet.com/scuba-diving/your-worldwide-dive-show-guide-for-2025/

JANUARY 18-26: Boot Düsseldorf (International Boat Show)
FEBRUARY 1-2: Duikvaker
FEBRUARY 21-23: European Dive Show (EUDI)
FEBRUARY 21-23: Diving Resort Travel (DRT) Show, Malaysia
MARCH 1-2: GO Diving Show (The UK Dive Show)
MARCH 15-16: ADEX Ocean Festival / OZTek Australia
MARCH 28-30: Mediterranean Diving Show
APRIL 4-6: Asia Dive Expo (ADEX)
MAY 22-25: Thailand Dive Expo (TDEX)
MAY 31 – JUNE 1: Scuba Show
JUNE 13-15: Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE)
SEPTEMBER 6-7: GO Diving ANZ Show
OCTOBER 17-19: Diving Talks
NOVEMBER 11-14: DEMA Show

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The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.
00:00 Introduction
01:35 Scuba.com Ad
02:35 Duikvaker
03:15 EUDI
04:23 DRT
05:04 GO Diving Show UK
06:24 ADEX OZTek
07:06 Mediterranean
07:34 ADEX
08:21 TDEX
08:51 Scuba Show
09:36 MIDE
10:06 GO Diving ANZ
11:09 Diving Talks
11:58 DEMA

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Upcoming Dive Shows in 2025 #scubadiving #diveshow

US diver Barrington Scott has set a verified Guinness World Record for the fastest time to scuba dive across all seven continents.Cartagena City Council says it is preparing to tighten access to the Cueva del Agua (Water Cave) system in southern Spain, following the death of a 37-year-old female diver there on 18 January. And an underwater habitat builder has just extended the record for longest time spent submerged. 

https://divernet.com/scuba-news/scuba-dash-across-7-continents-brings-world-record/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/spanish-cave-divers-death-prompts-calls-for-controls/ 
https://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article299289964.html
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/pod-builder-completes-120-days-under-sea/

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Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

US diver Barrington Scott has set a verified Guinness World Record for the fastest time to scuba dive across all seven continents.Cartagena City Council says it is preparing to tighten access to the Cueva del Agua (Water Cave) system in southern Spain, following the death of a 37-year-old female diver there on 18 January. And an underwater habitat builder has just extended the record for longest time spent submerged.

https://divernet.com/scuba-news/scuba-dash-across-7-continents-brings-world-record/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/spanish-cave-divers-death-prompts-calls-for-controls/
https://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article299289964.html
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/pod-builder-completes-120-days-under-sea/

#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

GEAR PURCHASES: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

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Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com ➡️ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com ➡️ For advertising within our brands
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS4yNkZBOTQyMkYxQkQyMzc2

Spanish Cave Closed After Fatality #scuba #podcast #news

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