Why

[teacake44]

Do they spend millions and millions of pounds, ( whoever they are) on locating war ships that have been sunk in WW 1/2, then discussing why it sank, how it sank, when 9 times out of 10 it was hit by enemy bombs, torpedo, or the guns from the enemy ships, and when they do find them there just looking at a pile of junk. Its not very often, if at all, they find anything of value. Or am I missing something, over to you.

[andy-hughes]

Probably to ascertain if there are deceased personnel on them, and what their nationality is, so the appropriate nations and relatives can be advised, and the sites designated as war graves to prevent divers disturbing the remains.

[Baldric]

Just beat me to it AH, well done that man.

[johnny.5]

maybe to neutralise any potential dangerous materials within the wreck

[teacake44]

I am to understand that all war ships lying on the ocean floor are seen as war graves, and to be left alone that's why I can't understand the reason for needing to know there exact location and the massive amount of money invested.

[andy-hughes]

teacake - // I am to understand that all war ships lying on the ocean floor are seen as war graves, and to be left alone that's why I can't understand the reason for needing to know there exact location and the massive amount of money invested. //

One heap of seventy-plus year old metal looks much like another, so the money is spent in identifying which ship it was, and then carrying on as advised.

[johnny.5]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2017/nov/03/worlds-biggest-grave-robbery-asias-disappearing-ww2-shipwrecks
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/28/bones-mass-grave-british-war-wrecks-java-indonesia

these are just two reasons

[sanmac]

And the majority of these "war graves" are at depths way, way beyond the limits of recreational divers.

[10ClarionSt]

HMS Edinburgh was located many years after she was sunk in WW2. She had gold bullion on board worth £5m. There was a big outcry when a salvage company recovered the gold, as she was officially designated a war grave, which, it was claimed, they desecrated.

The KMS Bismark was sunk in May 1941 by ships from the Royal Navy, including HM Ships Rodney, King George V, Dorsetshire. The wreck of the Bismark was located by Bob Ballard of Titanic fame, as it was claimed by some British sailors that torpedoes were used unnecessarily because Bismark was already on her

[10ClarionSt]

..continued (don't know what happened) on her way down. The admiralty disputed that version and said they were neccessary, but when the wreck was found, it was quite clear that torpedoes had been used. However, some British sailors claimed they had seen Bismark flying the black flag of surrender, and the use of torpedoes from HMS Dorsetshire was a war crime. History, teacake. That's why they do it.

[teacake44]

22.07 Ok, thanks for that so it seems to be whether a ship was sunk rightly or wrongly, and history. But to prove war crimes on either side is pretty pointless to me after all this time, because that works both ways, who invests all these millions and is it really worth it ?

[andy-hughes]

teacake - // But to prove war crimes on either side is pretty pointless to me after all this time, because that works both ways, //

War Crimes, like any other crimes, don't simply slide off the books because time has passed.

There is no Statute Of Limitations on War Crimes as far as I am aware, which is why a number of Nazis in advanced old age were still convicted and imprisoned.

You don;t get a pass for being old - murdering people remains a crime.

[teacake44]

^^ Thanks, understanding a little more, its a pity that such large amounts of money are not invested in the crimes of the present day, unless they are?

[sanmac]

I once scuba-dived on a sunken German ship off the coast of Aruba; however, it wasn't designated as a war grave site. The thing is that it was a freighter, and the German crew had decided to scuttle their ship, row ashore, and spend the rest of the war as prisoners of the Dutch in a tropical paradise. It was at a depth of around 150' and had hit the bottom sitting upright on its keel...A great dive with an interesting history.

[sanmac]

Regarding my post above. It was around 50 years ago that I went on that dive, and what I wrote was what I remember the dive-master telling me. Anyway, a few minutes ago I decided to Google "German ship-wrecks off Aruba". It turns out that the real history behind that wreck is much more interesting than his version of it. I must admit that I exaggerated the depth, but it was 50 or so years ago:)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Antilla_(1939)#Wreck