Engineers breaking-up WWII U-boat

JCFalkenbergIII · #1 (**permalink**) February 6th, 2008, 05:23 PM

Engineers breaking-up WWII U-boat

There are only four full-size WWII German U-Boats in existence

Engineers have started a month-long operation to break up the only World War II German U-Boat in the UK to turn it into a new tourist attraction.
U-534, which is being moved to Mersey Ferries' Woodside ferry terminal in Birkenhead, will be split into four pieces using a diamond wire cutter.
The sections, each weighing up to 240 tonnes, will each take a day to move.
Visitors will be able to walk through sections of the U-boat when the exhibition opens in July.
The submarine currently stands at Mortar Mill Quay, near Birkenhead, where it formed part of the Historic Warships Museum, which closed last year.
Merseytravel, which owns and operates Mersey Ferries, bought the vessel to turn into a tourist attraction at its terminal.

It's a really important piece of history which we want to preserve

Neil Scales, Merseytravel

In pictures: U-534

The first of the four sections to be removed is a 23m (75.4 ft) length of the bow, which will be moved by floating crane across the water.
Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, said: "There are only four U-Boats left. One here, two in Germany and a sister boat of the U-534 in Chicago.
"It's a really important piece of history which we want to preserve.
"It's the latest in a series of developments we are undertaking to ensure Mersey Ferries maintains and enhances its position as the most popular paid-for attraction in our region.
"More people than ever before will be able to view the sub in its new location."
RAF depth charge
The Imperial War Museum confirmed there are only four full-size WWII German U-Boats in existence, and that U-534 is the only one in the UK.
The submarine, launched on 23 September 1942, was used as a training vessel in the Baltic, according to the museum.
U-534 was sunk on 5 May 1945, in the Kattegat, north-west of Helsingor, Denmark, by depth charges dropped by an RAF Liberator.
The boat was salvaged in 1993 and brought to the UK in May 1996, before becoming a popular tourist attraction in Seacombe. The warships museum was closed down after nearby warehouses were redeveloped and the land was needed for parking space. The new exhibition at Woodside, which includes artefacts from the submarine and an enigma machine, is due to open in July.

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Merseyside | Engineers breaking-up WWII U-boat

JCFalkenbergIII · #2 (**permalink**) February 6th, 2008, 08:34 PM

For more pics

In Pictures: U-boat operation

YOUR PICTURE GALLERY IS NOW LOADING...

U-534, the UK's only full-size World War II German U-boat, is being split into four sections to be moved to a new location.

BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In Pictures: U-boat operation

JCFalkenbergIII · #3 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2008, 09:19 PM

Cash boost for submarine exhibit

The sub will be split into sections so visitors can see inside

Plans to renovate a former World War II German submarine and turn it into a tourist attraction have received a major cash boost.

The U-534 submarine is to become the centrepiece of a new exhibition at the Woodside Ferry Terminal in Wirral which is due to open this summer.
It has now attracted £550,000 of European Objective One funding.
Neil Scales from Merseytravel who run the terminal said: "This is a great boost to an exciting project."
The submarine will be split into sections which will allow visitors to see inside it from specially-built viewing platforms.
The exhibition in the visitors centre will display some of the four-and-a-half tons of memorabilia that was found on U534. This includes an Enigma cipher machine, ammunition, uniforms, tools, charts and maps. The entire project is estimated to cost about £2.5m.

BBC NEWS | England | Merseyside | Cash boost for submarine exhibit