I dived on a U Boat the other day (U13, a type IIB, 30m down off Lowestoft) and the prop is still in situ. There’s a length of chain running along the stern and a large piece of trawl net draped over the conning tower. The outer hull has started to collapse with some large gaping holes which weren’t present a year ago. That’s a considerably stronger structure than an aircraft. No salvage attempt*, unlike HMS Umpire off Blakeney which was ripped apart many years back for scrap.

I’m unconvinced that the protection is anything other than a ‘get-out’ for governments to not recover the numerous bodies and pieces of hardware and then trying to make it seem like it’s their compassion and respect. A few bones doesn’t stop wrecks from being wire-swept to level them if they’re a hazard to shipping.

It’s ********. Raise them if there’s a will and the finances, bury the dead if there is anything recovered and let people see history that will crumble into sweet FA otherwise with any remains being scattered, buried, smashed in the process.

*local conditions rather than the torpedo being armed and visible with the tube open as they were trying to get a shot at HMS Weston.