Status Report August 18th
Art: Aug 17th 1545 Seattle time
Attached are 3 pictures 1107, 1212 and 1214.
1107 was taken on a 500m swath and shows Grunion very near centerline of the track lying on her starboard side. You can see the bow and periscope projecting up into the water column.
1212 is on the 250m swath and shows the shadow of the port bow plane.
1214 is also on a 250m swath and again shows Grunion lying on her starboard side at about a 45 degree angle
We are currently looking at the I-9 site and will be at the Arare/CH site later today
Bruce (to Art)
I suspect that you are as concerned about the superstructure problem as several of the navy experts.
If it turns out to be some sort of perception distortion that is clearly explained then we are OK. However, might it be wise to take a few runs down hill (if possible) to be sure that we haven’t been missed something.
Art
If the images were taken against a flat level bottom and we had that shadow pattern, we would indeed have a problem. However, the Grunion is sitting on a slight ledge, mostly covered with mud and pretty well beaten up. The terrain immediately behind the ship is not uniform and causes different shadow lengths to be observed. From the slide marks, Grunion slid a good way downslope before coming to rest. I guess if you had a clay model of a hillside and one of the Grunion and you could adjust the various slopes and replicate the shadow pattern. More runs with our sonar are not going to change the shadow pattern.
My initial report that Grunion measured 320 feet was in error. Our average is more like 285-300 feet. The beam is about 27-30 feet. The length to width ratio is characteristic of a submarine. It appears that part of one end, probably the stern, is buried in the mud.
Given the characteristics of other US and Japanese ships in the area and considering the documented sinkings, it would be a stretch to make a case for another ship instead of Grunion.
We will forward some more pics later tonight.
Art Aug 18 0445 Seattle time
I have tried several versions of this email all of which choked the system due to size. Maybe this one will go.
Attached are six sonar pictures which I have oriented so that they are all looking up the slope to the south.
1106, 1102 and 1214 are with the sonar passing the target on the upslope side so that the shadow is to the north.
1103, 1107 and 1212 are with the sonar passing on the downslope side so that the shadow is upslope to the south. I believe you have seen these pictures before; I have just reoriented them for convenience of viewing.
You can see that the upslope and downslope patterns are different. You can also see where Grunion slid down the slope and where debris spilled downhill from Grunion.
Bruce
Attached below is a diagram of a Gato class sub from the Wahoo site. If you reduce it to the same size as the underwater images and slide it close to the image it may be helpful in analysis.
Plans are to spend some time trying to find the Japanese destroyer Arare, the two Japanese sub chasers SC 25 & SC 27 and the Japanese sub I-9
Hopefully Pete will be able to get some HD video of the Kiska Harbor area which still shows the ravages of war.
Sunday the three Abele brothers plan to greet the crew at Adak.
It should be stated that there will be some controversy as to whether this is a sub or a surface ship. The length and breadth are consistent with a sub and the location is consistent with Aiura’s battle map. The concern is that the photos give an appearance of the superstructure of a surface ship. Art explains this as shadows from the rough slope behind.
We may not have a definitive answer until we get a closer look next year .