Arms ship anchors raised after 96 years

There are plans to make final diving preparations today to raise the anchors of the Aud, the arms ship scuttled in Cork Harbour on Easter Saturday 1916.

The remnants of the wreck — which had a cargo of some 20,000 rifles, mostly captured Russian weapons, extensive ammunition, and 10 machine guns — now lie in about 30m of water off Cobh.

Captain Karl Spindler and his crew of 22 sailed from the Baltic port of Lubeck on Apr 9, 1916, with weapons for the Easter Rebellion.