Читать книгу Into the Abyss. Diving to Adventure in the Liquid World онлайн

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Some of the great vessels rolled slowly on to their sides while others went down by the bow or stern first, forcing the other end of the vessel to rise high out of the water. Others sank on an even keel.

Some had been moored in shallower water and settled quickly into the cold waters coming to rest on the seabed with their upper superstructures and masts jutting above the surface of the water.

Blasts of steam, oil and air roared out of the ship’s vents and white clouds of vapour billowed up from the sides of the ships. Great anchor chains snapped with the strain and crashed into the sea or whiplashed against the decks and sides of the ship. The ships groaned and protested as they were subjected to stresses and strains for which they had never been designed.

As each vessel passed from sight a whirlpool was created. Debris swirled around in it, slowly being sucked inwards and eventually, remorselessly, being pulled under into the murky depths.

Gradually, oil escaping from the submerged ships spread upwards and outwards to cover the surface of the Flow with a dark film. Scattered across the wide expanse of the Flow were boats, hammocks, lifebelts, chests, matchwood and debris. Hundreds of German sailors abandoned ship into lifeboats.