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Overview
The discovery of the I-52 in over 17,000 feet of water on May 2,
1995 is the culmination of a five year research effort by Paul Tidwell.
The I-52 was a cargo carrying submarine enroute from the Kure Naval
Yard in Japan to German occupied France. This specially designed
submarine was to play a very important role in the commerce of strategic
materials and technologies between the Axis nations. The Allied
intelligence network intercepted and decoded messages revealing
that the I-52 was carrying two tons of gold to purchase German optical
technologies. In response, a carrier task force was dispatched from
Norfolk with orders to engage and sink the I-52.
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On
the night of June 23, 1944 the I-52 rendez-
voused as planned
with the German U-530 in the mid-Atlantic. Later on that night,
torpedo carrying |
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from the USS Bogue engaged the I-52 in a deadly game of cat
and mouse. Although the U-boat escaped, the I-52 with her
precious cargo of gold would not be seen again for over fifty
years. |
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Paul Tidwell spent over five years researching archives of American,
British, German, and Japanese origin. As a result of his research
Mr. Tidwell became convinced that the I-52 was findable. With his
research in hand Mr. Tidwell contracted Sound Ocean Systems, Inc
of Redmond, Washington, to provide a deep ocean search and documentation
capability. Tom Dettweiler of Meridian Sciences and Bob Cooke of
Sound Ocean Systems served as the at-sea operations managers. In
addition, Meridian Sciences provided systems and analysis support.
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