became inoperative, and the expedition was not heard from for several days, prompting media speculation that the Nautilus and crew met a cold and bitter end. But Nautilus limped back to a port, first Spitsbergen and lastly Bergen, Norway. Nelson became fascinated with the Wilkins expedition, and set about to find the sunken Nautilus off Norway. "To me," Nelson said, "Sir Hubert and his Nautilus are a part of polar exploration history and deserve a place. The modifications that were made truly make it the world's first Arctic submarine. It is especially important this year-as it is the 50th anniversary of the nuclear submarine Nautilus (SSN 571) successfully doing the very thing Sir Hubert hoped to accomplish back in 1931. Besides this year also being designated the International Polar Year, it is also the 50th anniversary of Sir Hubert's death in Framingham, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, Sir Hubert and the Nautilus remain relegated to the shadows. Perhaps my book will help restore some public recognition and acclaim." Nelson went on to say "Besides Sir Hubert's aviation achievements, both in the Arctic and the Antarctic, his Nautilus expedition was a bold pioneering undertaking. Indeed, there were a number of record accomplishments: first configuration of a submarine for under ice operation, first submarine to venture into the Arctic, first oceanographic work performed from a submarine, first Arctic seafloor sample recovered, and first submarine to go beneath the Arctic ice (albeit briefly). Yes, Sir Hubert failed to reach the North Pole, failed to go submerged
across the Arctic Ocean. With a more modern submarine he would have succeeded, as others did that later followed." Nelson assembled a team in 2005 to take the submersible Jago to find Nautilus on the bottom. The submersible, under the direction of Dr. Hans Fricke, of the Max-Planck Institute, best known for his photography of the rare and mysterious coelacanths, just happened to be in the area. Nelson's expedition, called Project Nautilus, was sponsored by Holland America Line, Thyssen Foundation, and the American Philosophical Society. Nelson, a member of The Explorers Club, carried the club's flag on the dive to find and photograph Nautilus. Nelson was successful in locating the sunken sub. However, the stern was buried in the mud and he could not photograph the area of the missing dive planes. "The only 'mystery' was what happened to the ice guide? It wasn't in its deck housing and we could not locate it around the site." Since O-12 was only leased to Wilkins, the sub still belongs to the U.S. Government, which informed Nelson that he was not to disturb or take anything from the wreck. "The submersible Jago wasn't equipped to do any salvage work," Nelson says. "We were thrilled to have rediscovered it and to come away with video and digital images." Nelson's self-published book well illustrated and very readable. This story will appeal to anyone interested in exploration, especially in polar regions, submarines, or nautical voyages of discovery. This book has it all.
The book can be ordered from www.sabotageinthearctic.com
Dr. Stewart Nelson and JAGO submersible. www.seadiscovery.com
Dr. Stewart Nelson In JAGO with Nautilus illustration Marine Technology Reporter 43
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