national archives and records administration (nara)
divers entering and tampering with what is considered a war grave, the wreck site remains a popular, yet treacherous, dive site and continues to claim lives. At least three people have perished while exploring the U-853 site.8 Despite the extensive dive traffic, there were no good high-resolution images of the full wreck site—until recently. Advances in underwater photography and imaging technology have led to new, more complete images of the U-853 site. After years hidden in the ocean depths, full high-resolution images of U-853, courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Kraken Robotics, have been made public. Kraken Robotics used its KATFISH system to perform high-resolution mapping of U-853. The system uses Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS), which is thirty times more detailed than conventional side scan sonar, providing incredible detail of U-853 (and any other shipwreck deemed lost to
Crew aboard USS Moberly observes a pattern of depth charges during the attack on U-853.
Boston
Newport
Rhode Island
Point Judith SS Black Point wreck site
Atlantic Ocean Block Island U-853 wreck site
Long Island (NY)
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adapted from esri, gebco, delorme, naturalvue base map
Block Island Sound
SEA HISTORY 175, SUMMER 2021