discovery of old U-Boats...

[GoneToTheCanner]

hi all
It appears that a UK Coastguard hydrological survey vessel discovered two U-boat wrecks, believed to be the U-102 and the U-92, in the area of a former Allied minefield, North of the Orkneys. Both were believed to have been lost with all hands,whilst trying to navigate thru the minefield. Quite how they know them to be the respective pennant numbers, I don't know. The -102 is said to be the boat that sank a cruiser carrying Lord Kitchener, sending him and 699 others to their deaths.
regards
GttC

[Turncoat]

A lot of the formal orders issued to U boats were captured when the U-boat bases were overrun by the allies. Also a significant amount of german comms were intercepted (Positions being given in these as they were in code).

With these and allied intelligence, allied contact/sighting reps etc the allies set up comissions to account for all the U boats. There are only about 50 or so still unaccounted for, and their approximate positions are usually known so a pretty accurate guess can be made when a U-boat is found

[strummer]

If anyone happens to visit Chicago, make sure you take a trip to to the Museum of Science and Industry. One of the star attractions is the U-505 and its Enigma machine. The sub was forced to surface because of damage sustained in a "firefight" and was captured intact when its scuttling charge failed to detonate.

LINK:

http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/U505/index.html

The rest of the museum is pretty interesting too. I'm sure most of you would enjoy it.

Now back to our regular scheduled programming.

[hptmurphy]

There are two registered losses of U-Boats off the Waterford/Wexford coast both happen to be in the area of the recent trawler losses. Its not only U -boats from WW2 that appear but WW1 also. have a picture of one that was raised and brought into Dunmore east during WW1 and recently as in last year one was discovered off Ardmore.

I have records of all the U- Boats and there fates unfortunatley positions of losses are rarely recorded just the possible dates they were lost on.

[ZULU]

A few diving friends of mine and I have been searching for UC42 off cork harbour for a while. We've had a few hits with his small side scan sonar but bottom times are limited even with Nitrox. Haven't found anything. Yet. From most recent accounst it seems the RN blasted the area she sank in for fear of her cargo of mines dispersing. She sank form lost power and drifted back over one of these. They then trawled the area with cable to make sure. Still live and dive in hope!

[Muzzle]

My brother and friends regualrly dive the U baot off Baltimore in West Cork. Iv seen video of it and its amazing to see. All the crew made it ashore as far as i know.

[Turncoat]

I have records of all the U- Boats and there fates unfortunatley positions of losses are rarely recorded just the possible dates they were lost on.

A lot of this material such as last known positions etc is still restricted for some strange reason, especially the stuff captured by the americans. Hence why it isnt in the public domain.

[Rooster]

hi all
It appears that a UK Coastguard hydrological survey vessel discovered two U-boat wrecks, believed to be the U-102 and the U-92, in the area of a former Allied minefield, North of the Orkneys. Both were believed to have been lost with all hands,whilst trying to navigate thru the minefield. Quite how they know them to be the respective pennant numbers, I don't know. The -102 is said to be the boat that sank a cruiser carrying Lord Kitchener, sending him and 699 others to their deaths.
regards
GttC

Shouldn't that be a hydrographic survey? Anyway, I had no idea that the Coastguard had the capability to conduct surveys!
I thought that it was U-75 that was believed to have sank the Hampshire, although some have implicated an africaans spy in the attack.

[DeV]

BBC News story re this thread:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6172692.stm

This map shows some U-boat sunk during World War II:

http://uboat.net/maps/irish_sea.htm

115 U-boats were sunk off the north west coast by the allies at the end of the war:

http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/OperationDeadlight.html

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi Rooster
I stand corrected....the surveyors were using a Coastguard tug, not a dedicated survey vessel, as such. The commander of the -102 was the man credited with the sinking of the "Hampshire". I don't know what boat he was in for that sinking.
Hi Muzzle. If that's the -260, the entire crew survived. The wreck doesn't much resemble a submarine, by now, as time has taken it's toll but it is distinctive because it's periscope is said to be still intact.
regards
GttC

[hptmurphy]

HMS Hampshire was sunk because her destroyer escort couldn't keep up with her in the storm that was prevailing at the time..she slowed down to let HMS Victor come in line with her and so made herself a target.

[ZULU]

My father was involved with a hydrographic survey a couple of years ago using a unique single beam sonar that diffrentiated between different bottom types. It was sensitive enough to pick up the location of herring eggs on the sea floor. Rockscan or Roxanne as it was known as. The rights to the technology were bought in part by the marine inst and used on board the celtic voyager. Came across some interesting sites along some of the tracks that we followed around cork harbour. Have a lovely 17th-18th C cannon in front of our house as a result. Found a few lengths of copper tube as well. Thought it was belonging to U-Boat but found no markings to confirm. Guess serial numbers don't last to long down there. Must dive the that U-260 soon before it disintegrates. Said to be a great dive.