Diving the wreck of SMS Konig - battleship, Scapa Flow

SMS Konig, was the lead dreadnought of the Konig-class of 4 battleships constructed by Germany in the lead up to WWI. As the latest evolution of the battleship concept, they were the newest and toughest dreadnoughts, and as such were placed in the vanguard of the Imperial German Navy High Seas Fleet at engagements such as the Battle of Jutland in 1916 where they traded heavy blows with the battleships of the British Grand Fleet.
At the end of WWI, as a condition of the November 1918 Armistice , 74 of the finest German ships were to be interned at Scapa Flow. Seven months later, as it appeared that the Armistice was in danger of breaking down and the hostilities recommence, with its guns disarmed and manned only by skeleton crews, the entire fleet was scuttled on a pre-arranged coded order on 21 June 1919 in the greatest single act of maritime suicide the world has eve seen.

Today, three Konig's lie on the bottom of Scapa Flow in 38-45msw. This video shows some of the Konig, a massive 25,000-ton dreadnought that is 575 feet long.

[galaxieman]

Rod, I really like and appreciate the way you respond to comments and answer the questions of your viewers. It's all good info. and the way things should be.

[reloadncharge]

Excellent Scapa piece....I need to return to Stromness for a
Thanks, good overview and video. Andrew

[Golokamusic]

My Grandfather served aboard this ship. I still have photos of him with crew mates.

[squalusmarine]

This is amazing. I love wrecks! Whats the best way to contact you?

[keighlancoe]

It seems that nearly all of the wrecks at Scapa Flow capsized and hit the sea floor upside down. I wonder why this is.

[harrylor]

Very nice video, many thanks!😃
Of course, it's not so nice that all you see of these ships is a jumbled pile of junk and no real indication of the Imperial fleet....🧐
With lots of money and a group of investors you could theoretically lift at least a 15 inch gun turret ( 865 tonnes) from the "S.M.S. Bayern" ("H.M.S. Bavaria") and exhibit it in Scapa Flow .🤔 That would certainly be very impressive for visitors. 😎don't you think?🤔😉

[yohannbiimu]

Is there a SENSIBLE reason why these ships were sunk rather than scrapped? Just sending them to the bottom seems a terrible waste of material.