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

The Wreck of DKM Bismarck − A Marine Forensics Analysis
were very tight, perhaps no more than 1-2 meters. This was done to allow better flow to the
rudders thereby enhancing their turning ability. The rudder is also missing about 50% of its
trailing structure, leading one to conclude that the fatal torpedo hit actually struck the trailing
edge of that rudder whereupon it exploded or the explosion took place just inboard but between
the two rudders.
With the turret positions correctly identified, then the heading of the ship at the moment
of sinking can be confirmed. It was on a generally northern heading during the battle, changing
at times between northwest and northeast. So the closest configuration to this known range of
headings would put Anton to the east, with the ship sinking on a northeast heading.
RUSTICLES
Rusticle phenomena, first encountered during the exploration of the wreck of the Titanic,
are still very imperfectly understood. As is the case for much forensic analysis, as some
questions of fact are resolved, more puzzlements arise to confound and fascinate the analysts.
A number of different varieties of rusticles 41 were found on the wreck of Bismarck.
Rusticles are bioconcretious structures that have been found on deep-ocean wrecks like
RMS Titanic and USS Yorktown (CV-6). They involve water channels, reservoirs, iron plate-like
structures, thread-like spans, porous matrices, and ducts connecting to the outside. Within these
structures there appear to be a number of microbial strains of sulfate reducing bacteria, iron-
related bacteria, heterotropic aerobic bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, and archaeobacteria. There
are different bacteria consortia on the wreck of Bismarck with strikingly differing colors. These
bacteria exist together with a range of fungi 42 .
Most areas with no structural damage have very little rusticle development. There are a
few areas with little or no structural damage that have a great deal of rusticle activity. It is
believed that these represent fire-damaged areas. The general impression is that rusticles have
invaded burn-damaged areas.
Rusticles have attacked severed edges of hull steel. Buckling and separation of thick
armor plates allows rusticles to attack edges. Rusticles do not always attack "splash" marks from
splinter hits, even though bare metal is present. Is there a chemical residue that may be negative
to rusticle growth?
Rusticle activity varies widely in different areas of ship. Some areas seem completely
unaffected. The areas of greatest structural damage from explosions have almost complete
rusticle involvement.
Photographic images taken by ROVs Jake and Elwood show that rusticle growth inside
the wreck is equivalent to that on Titanic, and is very mature. Almost no interior paint is still
visible except in the transverse corridor running athwartship beneath the seaplane catapult.
Rusticles are about one meter long. Interior rusticles seem to grow as profusely in structurally
intact areas as well as heavily damaged locations, indicating that paint thickness may be a factor.
Fire damage may also be a contributor.
41
First named by Dr. Robert Ballard in 1986 when he explored the wreck of the RMS Titanic because of
their likeness to icicles.
42
“The Impact of Bioconcretious Structures (Rusticles) for the RMS Titanic: Implications for Maritime
Steel Structures,” by Dr. Roy Cullimore and Kori Johnston. Transactions of the Society of Naval
Architects and Marine Engineers, Volume 107, 2000, pp 179-195.
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