A Nazi warship sunk by the British was found years later when a power company overtook them while inspecting their water lines.
Karlsruhe was returning from a Nazi invasion of Norway in 1940, when he was torpedoed by HMS Truant, while the Germans were forced to cut off a sinking ship.
But while the story of Karlsruhe is recorded, it is still a mystery.
The ship was found after the Norwegian power company, Statnet, identified a wreck near its underwater lines in the belt of the Skejerk.
The Nazi warship Karlsruhe (pictured) was returning from an invasion of Norway in 1940 when it collided with a British submarine, the HMS Trount torpedo.
The location of the wreck has remained a mystery for 80 years – yet. It was found off the coast of Norway by a Norwegian power company, Statnet. Pictured: A scan of the wreck
‘You can find Karlsruhe’s fate in the history books, but no one knows where the ship sank,’ said Frode Calve of the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
‘Also, it was the only large German warship lost during an attack on an unknown position on Norway.
‘After all these years, we finally know where the graveyard of this important warship is.’
The existence of the wreckage, 13 nautical miles from ChristianSund in southern Norway, was first discovered in Saurashtra in 2017 during a statenet inspection.
But it wasn’t until June of this year that state engineer Lt. Peter Hobbastad had the opportunity to inspect the ship using a remote-controlled submarine.
The wreckage, 13 nautical miles from the southern Norwegian city of Kristiansand, was first discovered in 2017 by Saun 2017, but the ship was inspected in June this year as a lost Nazi warship.
Footage from Karlsruhe, found 490 meters below sea level, shows the ship pointing straight into the sea with cannons at sea (pictured)
“When the results of the ROV showed us a ship that had been torpedoed, we realized it was a war,” said Mr Hobburstade.
‘As the cannons appeared on the screen, we realized it was a huge warship. We were so excited and surprised that the wreck was so big. ‘
Footage of the wreckage shows how it is adorned with a swastika, topped by a Nazi eagle or partedlar, with an anchor shape at the bottom.
Guns and umbilical-encrusted superstructures are also visible.
The first images also show that, unusually for a ship with a high center of gravity, Karlsruhe stayed upright after the sinking.
“Carlsru stands firmly 490 meters below sea level, with cannons pointing to the best of men in the sea,” Calvey said.
‘With the main battery of nine cannons in three triple constructions, this was the largest and most terrifying ship in the attack group against Christensand.’
Mr Hobbes added: “It’s rare and extra fun for those of us working in underwater investigations to find such a special war disaster.”
Guns and barnacle-encrusted superstructure clearly visible in the wreckage investigation by remote-controlled submarine
The state engineer, Ole Peter Hobbursted, who inspected the ship, said: ‘We understand that it is a huge warship. We were so excited and surprised that the wreck was so big. ‘
The wreckage of such a special battle is seldom seen. The warship has three cannons in three triple constructions, and the attack against Christian Sand was the largest and most terrifying ship in the group.
Despite its array of firepower, Karlsruhe was used only as a military vehicle for the attack on Christensen.
But after being fired upon by Norwegian coastal guns at the Odedar ø ya Fortress, he soon joined the fight.
Later that day, after successfully landing troops in Norway, she was attacked by two British torpedoes.
His power was quickly disabled by the flow of water, cut off the ship’s pumps, and Commander Friedrich Reeve decided to leave the ship.
One of her escorts, a torpedo boat, a griffon, then rescued the crew and torpedo Karlsruhe twice more to make sure she sank.
Rivin was strictly censored for his actions, however, he did not attempt to return the warship to ChristianSand for repairs.
HMS Truant will outperform its rival for six years, sinking in December 1946 en route to shipbreakers, which were sold for scrap the previous year.
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