U-864

Demonskates · Post by **Demonskates** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:08 am

Read on AOL news that the U-864 that was sunk of the coast of Norway (about 2 1/2 miles from Feldje) is going to be encased where she lies with sand and gravel.
She has a deadly cargo of 70 tons of mercury onboard. They are afraid that it will begin to poison the sea life in the area.
Thye U-864 was sunk on feb 9th, 1945.

If you ask me, sand and gravel isnt going to contain 70 tons of mercury.

Demonskates · Post by **Demonskates** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:10 am

Found out that the U-864 was bound for japan when she was sunk. Figured id to mention that.

Mike Higgins · Post by **Mike Higgins** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:42 pm

The U-864 (A type IXD boat, commanded by Korvkpt Ralf-Reimar Wolfram) was on it's way to Japan with 70 tons of mercury and jet engines parts and technology when it was sunk on 9 Feb 1945. It was sunk by the British Submarine HMS Venturer (Lt James S Launders) It is the only known instance in the history of naval warfare that one submarine sank another while both were submerged.

Demonskates · Post by **Demonskates** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:17 am

Out of curiosity, what would they need 70 tons of Mercury for? It's just an odd item. What were they using it for?

phylo_roadking · Post by **phylo_roadking** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:53 am

I can't remember the details but there's a process using mercury that catalyses uranium out of various heavy metal ores...! Sand and gravel would be fine to contain it cos its not water soluable, the only way it gets into marine life is by ingestion.

Mike Higgins · Post by **Mike Higgins** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:18 pm

Mercury was processed into a type of explosive "salt", fulminated mercury was a triggering ingredient in munitions of the era.

Simon_G · Post by **Simon_G** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:46 pm

The Japanese I-class subs which came to France, and returned east from 1943 onwards (only two partly successful from memory) according to Japanese records carried Mercury in an amalgam with Uranium oxide in their keels.

Upon reflection this was not so stupid an idea. the mercury amalgam would withstand crushing pressures and separation at the other end was relatively easy.

From July 1943, declassified MAGIC intercepts reveal that Japan was requesting Czecholslovakian Uranium oxide for it's own A-bomb project.

What is less clear is whether mercury aboard the U-864 was an amalgam with Uranium oxide (Yellow Cake) aswell ?

In 1968 and 1972 U-859 was raised from the seabed near Penang and the reason given in a Malaysian court case for disturbing this war grave was the danger of mercury cargo escaping from the wreck.