Salvagers have plundered war graves and other wrecks for metal, especially steel made before Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Its lower background radiation makes it useful for sensitive instruments such as Geiger counters. That demand threatens maritime archaeology and violates sailors' graves. Scientific demand for old steel has helped drive destructive metal piracy.
Notable Point · 35:38-36:53
Why salvagers plunder sunken warships
Demand for low-background steel has encouraged destructive and unlawful salvage of wartime wrecks.