The Wreck of DKM Bismarck − A Marine Forensics Analysis 1 The ...

The Wreck of DKM Bismarck − A Marine Forensics Analysis
LESSONS FOR THE MARINE FORENSIC ANALYST
EPILOG
○ Survivor Testimony can be helpful but is a suspect source:
- The brain fills in details and ignores “impossible” sights
- Small details are recalled as large.
- Details can be rationalized or imagined
- Testimony very close to the time of the event is most useful
- Prejudice can be a factor (fear of torpedo, mine, or shell hits)
- Reality (at times, this is the only source of information)
○ Ship Damage − difficult to determine the cause of damage on the wreck:
- Damage that caused the ship to sink
- Damage sustained as the ship plunged through the water column
- Damage sustained at the time of impact with the seabed
- Damage resulting from deterioration on the seabed
○ Documentation:
- Very important to have the latest plans of the ship
- Helpful to have recent photographs of the ship
- Historical analysis is a helpful starting point for the marine forensics specialist
○ Reverse Engineering:
- Very dependent on the skill of the person(s) doing the analysis
- Always a degree of uncertainly in the details
- Sadly, experience reminds the analyst that the “Best Available Information”
frequently is later shown to be “Not Very Good”
○ Humility is a GREAT virtue for the marine forensic analyst
The May 2002 Cameron Expedition to the Bismarck wreck has answered some questions
but raised others. Further exploration of the wreck may answer some of those questions.
Unquestionably, this 2002 encounter demonstrated what can be gained from a thorough
photographic examination of sunken marine wrecks, an important resource for any thorough
marine forensic analysis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The authors want to acknowledge the technical assistance of Otto Jons, Sean Kery, Michael
Bateman, and Dennis Breen of CSC Advanced Marine in the preparation of this report. We particularly
appreciate the assistance of Dennis Breen in the analysis of damage to the propeller and rudder. We also
want to thank Steven Smith of Engineering Solutions, Inc. for his graphic work on Turret Bruno and the
damaged profile of Bismarck.
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