Shadow Divers
Encyclopedia
Shadow Divers is a non-fictional recounting of the discovery of a World War II German U-Boat
sixty miles off the coast of New Jersey
, USA
in 1991.
, including Richie Kohler
and John Chatterton
, explore an unknown object lying 230 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean
and discover an apparent historical impossibility: a World War II
German U-Boat
off the coast of New Jersey. Amazed at this discovery, Chatterton and his fellow divers make a pact to keep the U-Boat a secret until they can discover its identity and claim credit for its discovery. This is to prevent "wreck-jumping" where another person claims credit and/or removes objects from the wreck. Unfortunately this pact is broken almost immediately by a couple of members of the team who decide to tell close friends, and the secret is let out. Consulting both the United States Navy
and the German Navy
both lead to complete denials of the possibility of a World War II-era U-Boat wreck in that area. Historical records claim the closest U-Boat wreck to be hundreds of miles away.
The book chronicles the seven year quest to learn the identity of the mysterious wreck, dubbed "U-Who" by the dive team, the identities of the men aboard her, and how she came to rest on the ocean floor near New Jersey. Over the length of the quest several members of the original dive team quit, either because their lives lead them elsewhere or over concerns for their safety. Several new members are brought in, including Richie Kohler
, a member of the notorious "Atlantic Wreck Divers" club that had the reputation of being pirate-like and reckless in their diving philosophy. This philosophy is completely opposite of Chatterton's, and he initially dislikes Kohler, however during the course of the quest the two men discover qualities in each other they both admire and respect. Kohler himself is driven not by monetary desires but the history behind and of the wreck, and the personal connection he feels as his family is of German
descent. He and Chatterton become close friends.
The quest for the U-Boat's identity and the identity of the men on board push the men and the dive team to the limits, ultimately ending Chatterton's and Kohler's marriages, and the lives of three divers, including a son and a father.
, directed and produced by Peter Weir
, scheduled for release in 2013.
In 2000 a PBS NOVA show called Hitler's Lost Sub was aired which followed Chatterton and Kohler in their quest to identify the sub.
Another book challenged some of the facts about the sinking of the U-869 called Shadow Divers Exposed: the Real Saga of the U-869 (2006), self-published by Gary Gentile
. Gentile, a noted wreck diver, researcher, and author, sharply refutes Chatteron and Kohlers theory of how U-869 sank. He cites attack logs and eyewitness accounts from the crew of two destroyer escort
s suggesting that the U-boat was initially damaged with a hedgehog
launched by the and then subsequently damaged with a depth charge by the accompanying . Gentile also contradicts the events on deck after the Rouse's (father and son) fatal dive.
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
sixty miles off the coast of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1991.
Overview
In 1991, a group of diversUnderwater diving
Underwater diving is the practice of going underwater, either with breathing apparatus or by breath-holding .Recreational diving is a popular activity...
, including Richie Kohler
Richie kohler
Richie Kohler is an experienced technical wreck diver and shipwreck historian who has been diving and exploring shipwrecks since 1980. Together with John Chatterton, Kohler was one of the co-hosts of the television series Deep Sea Detectives on the History Channel and is also a consultant for the...
and John Chatterton
John Chatterton
John Chatterton is one of the world’s most accomplished and well known wreck divers. Together with Richie Kohler, he was one of the co-hosts for the History Channel’s Deep Sea Detectives where they have completed work on 57 episodes of this successful series...
, explore an unknown object lying 230 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and discover an apparent historical impossibility: a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
German U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
off the coast of New Jersey. Amazed at this discovery, Chatterton and his fellow divers make a pact to keep the U-Boat a secret until they can discover its identity and claim credit for its discovery. This is to prevent "wreck-jumping" where another person claims credit and/or removes objects from the wreck. Unfortunately this pact is broken almost immediately by a couple of members of the team who decide to tell close friends, and the secret is let out. Consulting both the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and the German Navy
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
both lead to complete denials of the possibility of a World War II-era U-Boat wreck in that area. Historical records claim the closest U-Boat wreck to be hundreds of miles away.
The book chronicles the seven year quest to learn the identity of the mysterious wreck, dubbed "U-Who" by the dive team, the identities of the men aboard her, and how she came to rest on the ocean floor near New Jersey. Over the length of the quest several members of the original dive team quit, either because their lives lead them elsewhere or over concerns for their safety. Several new members are brought in, including Richie Kohler
Richie kohler
Richie Kohler is an experienced technical wreck diver and shipwreck historian who has been diving and exploring shipwrecks since 1980. Together with John Chatterton, Kohler was one of the co-hosts of the television series Deep Sea Detectives on the History Channel and is also a consultant for the...
, a member of the notorious "Atlantic Wreck Divers" club that had the reputation of being pirate-like and reckless in their diving philosophy. This philosophy is completely opposite of Chatterton's, and he initially dislikes Kohler, however during the course of the quest the two men discover qualities in each other they both admire and respect. Kohler himself is driven not by monetary desires but the history behind and of the wreck, and the personal connection he feels as his family is of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
descent. He and Chatterton become close friends.
The quest for the U-Boat's identity and the identity of the men on board push the men and the dive team to the limits, ultimately ending Chatterton's and Kohler's marriages, and the lives of three divers, including a son and a father.
In media
The book will be a major motion picture by 20th Century Fox20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, directed and produced by Peter Weir
Peter Weir
Peter Lindsay Weir, AM is an Australian film director. After playing a leading role in the Australian New Wave cinema with his films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave and Gallipoli, Weir directed a diverse group of American and international films—many of them major box office...
, scheduled for release in 2013.
In 2000 a PBS NOVA show called Hitler's Lost Sub was aired which followed Chatterton and Kohler in their quest to identify the sub.
Another book challenged some of the facts about the sinking of the U-869 called Shadow Divers Exposed: the Real Saga of the U-869 (2006), self-published by Gary Gentile
Gary Gentile
Gary Gentile is an American author and pioneering technical diver.-Diving:Gary Gentile is a wreck diver. It has been suggested that Gary Gentile may be the most experienced wreck diver in the world...
. Gentile, a noted wreck diver, researcher, and author, sharply refutes Chatteron and Kohlers theory of how U-869 sank. He cites attack logs and eyewitness accounts from the crew of two destroyer escort
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
s suggesting that the U-boat was initially damaged with a hedgehog
Hedgehog (weapon)
The Hedgehog was an anti-submarine weapon developed by the Royal Navy during World War II, that was deployed on convoy escort warships such as destroyers to supplement the depth charge. The weapon worked by firing a number of small spigot mortar bombs from spiked fittings...
launched by the and then subsequently damaged with a depth charge by the accompanying . Gentile also contradicts the events on deck after the Rouse's (father and son) fatal dive.
Honors
- American Booksellers AssociationAmerican Booksellers AssociationThe American Booksellers Association is a non-profit industryassociation founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstores in the United States and Canada. The ABA and its members support freedom of speech, literacy, and programs that encourage reading...
's Non-fiction 2005 Book Sense Book of the Year Award - American Library AssociationAmerican Library AssociationThe American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
Alex Award - New York Times Best Seller listNew York Times Best Seller listThe New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
Further reading
- The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths Bernie Chowdhury. Harper Paperbacks, 2002., 384 pp., ISBN 0-060-93259-7.
External links
- Interview with Robert Kurson on Shadow Divers at the Pritzker Military LibraryPritzker Military LibraryThe Pritzker Military Library is a research library for the study of military history in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded in 2003 by COL James N. Pritzker, IL ARNG to be a non-partisan institution for the study of "the citizen soldier as an essential element for the preservation of...
- Booknotes interview with Kurson on Shadow Divers, July 11, 2004.