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Discovery
With fuel reserves critically low, the searchers were forced to
cover the secondary area as quickly as possible, searching without
the overlap that had been used in the primary sector. By now, Paul
was very concerned that he would not have enough fuel to properly
document and identify the wreck even if he did find it. Without
a proper claim, five years of Paul's work and the money thus far
invested would all be in jeopardy. Tom
and Bob, concerned with the safety and success of the entire expedition
, planned for us to continue our search until the 3rd of May. As
the searchers worked their way to the southern end of the secondary
sector, their luck changed. Shortly after breakfast on May 2nd a
small image appeared on the sonar screen near Dave Jourdan's renavigated
position. Dr. Midkat Ibreav, the designer of the MAK-1M, was the
first to spot the target on his acquisition display. Digitally reprocessed
images from Nauticos' ORION software showed a strong return and
a debris field.
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Still
Camera
Photo-Mosaic |
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At
3:30 AM on May 3rd the searchers obtained a 100Khz high-resolution
image of the target, showing a (surprisingly) intact hull, conning
tower, and scattered remains of the damage that must have occurred
during the attack and the descent to the ocean bottom: strong proof
that this was a submarine wreck. A tremendous sense of relief was
felt among all those present, as Paul's five year search for the I-52
had come to an end.
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Using
the NEPTUN sled, with video and still cameras, the YUZHMORGEOLOGIYA
began its photographic survey of the wreck site. Dr. Valeriy Kazachenok
skillfully controlled the sled, keeping it a few meters above the
seafloor at the end of 7000 meters of cable, while capturing the
amazing photos displayed in the photo mosaic below.
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