THE DIVE
My fascination with exploration began when I joined a Russian expedition to the deepest archaeological site on the planet, descending nearly three miles into the abyss of the Bermuda Triangle aboard a Soviet-era submersible. This post is the story of that dive.
UNDERSEA ARSENAL, POISONED OCEANS
Undersea Arsenal, Poisoned Oceans is a 9-part series on the history and consequences of decommissioned unconventional munitions disposed at sea.
Part 1: Chemical, Biological and Radiological Arms is an look into the development of various classes of unconventional arms, including their strengths and weaknesses from a strategic standpoint.
Part 2: The Stink Trailblazers tells the story of the Battle of Ypres, the first chemical gas attack of the modern era.
Part 3: Now What? With the First and Second World Wars ending with the major powers holding immense chemical weapon stockpiles, oceanic dumping became the option of first resort.
Part 4: Cut Holes and Sink ‘Em is about the fast-and-loose American weapons disposal program of the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Part 5: Beaufort Dyke and the Missing Munitions discusses one of the worst instances of oceanic dumping and the ongoing threat they pose.
Part 6: The Arms Race covers the most commonly weaponized chemicals.
Part 7: Ongoing Risk discusses the uncommon and unexpected ways these munitions have resurfaced.
Part 8: A Threat to Oceanic Ecosystems. How do these munitions interact with aquatic flora and fauna? The truth is that we simply do not know.
Part 9: Undersea Arsenal. With the changing landscape of technology and politically-motivated terrorism, will any of these lost munitions be recovered and deployed?
SKYJACKED!
“Skyjacked!” is a three-part series about DB Cooper, an unidentified man who hijacked a Boeing 727 over Washington State before demanding $200,000 and a parachute. His subsequent disappearance has become the stuff of legends. Guest writer John Griffith has contributed his new analysis exclusively to ExpeditionWriter.com, tossing aside old assumptions and mythology in favor of grounded, fact-based conclusions.
Part 1: Desperate Men & No Security
Part 2: The Search for DB Cooper
Part 3: Fugitive Becomes Folk Hero
THE EARLY SUBMARINERS
The development of the submarine weapon was a product of many different minds, all with varying intentions. Some were patriots, seeking the ultimate counter to the naval super-weapons of first-rate powers. Others were schemers, betting their lives and fortunes on unproven vessels of their own design, seeking riches and renown beyond measure. There were, of course, those who explored the physical universe through the mind, men who could conceptualize the vastly complicated interaction of man-made materials and the physical nature of the abyss. These men oftentimes never sought to bring their drawings and writings from the confine of paper or parchment, but inspired generations of dreamers to follow. The most important group, however, was that of the journeyman inventor, men of the mind who traveled from country to country seeking patronage for their radical dreams.
Part 8: Confederate Submarines
Part 9: Why Were Submarines So Dangerous to their Investors?