Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

amehatrekkie t1_j99m7fj wrote

Reply to comment by marketrent in Previously unreleased footage from first submersible dives in July 1986 to the RMS Titanic shipwreck — British passenger liner that sank 14-15 April 1912 remains about 4,000 metres undersea in the Atlantic Ocean by marketrent

Something that was revealed a few years ago was that the expedition was paid for by the us navy and they were looking for a submarine wreck from WW2. After they found the submarine, the Argo crew figured they can look for the Titanic as well since they're near the estimated probable location. They got permission from the navy and were given a time frame (idr how long). They found the Titanic on the last day on the western edge of the search area. The submarine search was declassified a few days before the information was released.

14

martinborgen t1_j99x359 wrote

I believe it was a cold war nuclear sub USS Scorpion, lost in 1968, not a WW2 boat.

16

Accujack t1_j9bq739 wrote

They also weren't trying to find it, they know exactly where it is. They wanted someone to survey the wreck to evaluate its condition.

2

listyraesder t1_j9blzpe wrote

This is inaccurate. The Titanic expedition was always planned - it was the ostensible reason for Ballard to be out there. The Titanic portion was a joint WHOI/IFREMER expedition, and the French ship was searching for Titanic while Ballard was searching for the Cold War nuclear submarine Scorpion. Ballard arrived at Titanic search grid in time to take over from the IFREMER team.

3