Salvaging the German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow,
1924-1931
On mid-Summer's Day 1919 the interned German Grand Fleet was scuttled
by their crews at Scapa Flow in the Orkney
despite a Royal Navy guard force. Greatly embarrassed, the Admiralty
nevertheless confidently stated that none of the ships would ever be recovered.
Had it not been for the drive and ingenuity of one man there is indeed every
possibility that they would still be resting on the sea bottom today. Cox's Navy
tells the incredible true story of Ernest Cox, a Wolverhampton-born scrap
merchant, who, despite having no previous experience, led the biggest salvage
operation in history to recover the ships. The 28,000-ton Hindenburg was the
largest ship ever salvaged. Not knowing the boundaries enabled Cox to apply
solid common sense and brilliant improvisation, changing forever marine salvage
practice during peace and war.
