A New Video on the Saipan Survey

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Historic Preservation Office has just released a video on the recent World War II Invasion Beaches Survey.  It gives a great overview of the project, it’s personnel, and the technology used to locate numerous targets in the waters off Saipan.  The surey located landing craft, planes, tanks, and naval vessels.  In fact over 1500 targets were recorded.  This project was featured in an MUA project journal last year.

You can view the video here:  http://marianaspacific.com/IBS/IBS.html

The project journal can be viewed here:

http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/saipan/saipan_intro.shtml

Underwater Archaeology of World War 2 Invasion Beaches in Saipan

On June 15, 1944 US Marines stormed ashore beginning the Battle for Saipan. World War II tanks, landing craft, barges, ships, and material litters the waters. Today the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on the Island of Saipan has brought in underwater archaeologists Jason Burns and Michael Krivor to inventory their submerged cultural resources. As part of their public outreach program Jason and Michael will post updates on how the project is proceeding.

You can read their first entry on the MUA here:
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/saipan/saipan_intro.shtml

Best regards,

T Kurt Knoerl