German submarine U-40 was a Type IXA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II.. U-40 was built in Bremen by DeSchiMAG AG Weser as yard number 945. As the U-boat began to sink at the stern, Ropers crew watched the German sailors jump into the water and beg to be rescued. Hutton, History and Economy of the Great Lakes Region, Celebrate 50 Years of Spectacular National Marine Sanctuaries, Flexible Flights Airfare Offer from Explorer Ventures Fleet, Exclusive Red Sea Liveaboard Diving Packages: Premium Amenities Await. Download image (jpg, 270 KB). [11] The majority of the debris lies within a 100 metres (330ft) radius of the wreck. Each shipwreck tells a unique story; today we visit the U-85. Significance: U- 352 is significant to American military history, maritime history and historic archaeology as it was the first U-boat sunk by the United States Coast Guard off the American East Coast during World War II's Battle of the Atlantic. Standing atop the bridge of the U-boat, the crew of the U-852 meticulously hunted and machine gunned the survivors. Disclaimer On April 10, while off the New Jersey coast, U-85 found its first target, Swedish freighter Christina Knudsen. However, to do this successfully the submarine would have to maintain a high-level of secrecy throughout her journey from Europe. (Photo: NOAA), This post is by a guest blogger. Launched on 10 April 1941, she was commissioned on 7 June and assigned to the 3rd U-boat Flotilla under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Eberhard Greger. After minor repairs in St. Nazaire, U-352 headed for the U.S. East Coast on April 7, 1942. Roper returned after daylight and recovered the bodies of 29 sailors. Image courtesy of Kraken Robotics. Download image (jpg, 377 KB). One of the most successful Hunter-Killers of WWII. At the bow, the outer-hull is gone, exposing the pressure hull and the four forward torpedo tubes. The depth charge damage was so great that he had no other alternative but to abort the mission and return to port in St. Nazaire, France. The U-852 was itself sunk on May 3 1944 by British aircraft off the coast of Somalia. Rathke spotted Icarus, a 165-foot USCG Cutter, on antisubmarine patrol off Cape Lookout. They were convicted at a British military tribunal in Hamburg, (held concurrently during the Nuremberg Trials) for killing the survivors of the torpedoed Greek steamer Peleus in 1944. The U-85 is a very rare Type VIIB U-boat, one of only 24 built, and was the only Type VIIB U-boat lost off the U.S. East Coast during the war. Die Sprengung war jedoch nur zum Teil erfolgreich. Today, visitors to the cemetery can see the graves and read the names of the sailors that were recovered. There youll also find a 3D model of U-85, a photomosaic, a video, site plan, and dive slate. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . The boat had a complement of fifty-five.[3]. On 30 April 1944, U-852 was spotted in the Indian Ocean by a Vickers Wellington bomber flying from Aden. At first, Ropers crew didnt suspect much, but they dutifully pursued the contact. The expansion would also establish the largest area designated as a World War II battlefield anywhere in the world. However, once again, the crew on Freden panicked and took to the lifeboats. Those charged were Heinz Eck, August Hoffmann, Walter Weisspfennig, Hans Richard Lenz and Wolfgang Schwender. German submarine U-85 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Some of these tubes still have visible torpedoes inside. There are 3 type XXI boats buried in the Elbe II bunker in Hamburg. Fearing that they may attempt to man their deck guns, Icarus began delivering heavy machine-gun fire, which resulted in the deaths of several crew aboard the U-boat. Rathke fired at Icarus, but the torpedo either malfunctioned or hit the sea bottom. The crew of the U-85 claimed to have scored at least one hit, but the vessel evidently did not sink and there were no confirming allied records of the incident. We were pretty sure before, but we had some members go to the National Archives in the UK to find . As the German sailors attempted to exit the conning tower to man their guns, they came under heavy fire from Ropers crew. The bodies were brought back to Norfolk and later that evening, they were buried in Hampton National Cemetery in Hampton, Virginia with full military honors under the cover of darkness. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. She had two shafts and two 1.85m (6ft) propellers. The information listed on this site is to be used as a reference and is only our opinion/suggestion. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines plus two MWM RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of 9,000 metric horsepower (6,620kW; 8,880shp) for use while surfaced, and two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010PS; 750kW) for use while submerged. After the war, she was returned to her original owner, only to be sold two years later to the Hawaiian Steamship Company of New York and renamed the Nebraskan. direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical . Rathke attempted to carry out at least one attack, but depth charges kept him from being successful. The U-boat Memorial at Mltenort. Joined later by the destroyer Ericsson (DD440), the American task force detected, attacked, and destroyed the U-853. The German sailors were later interred in Hampton Roads, Virginia. As Roper began to close in on U-85, the crew suspected that they were pursuing a submarine. National marine sanctuaries protect some of the most spectacular ocean and Great Lakes resources in the United States, including shipwrecks like the Dixie Arrow. The wreck of U-852 on the beach of Somaliland HMS Fishguard Crew - Boarded and spent nearly a month salvaging equipment and torpedoes from U-852 after British aircraft fatally damaged her as she beached near Ras Mabber, Somaliland off the Somali coast on 3 May 1944,. Abrams. They then returned to the site and collected 33 survivors, one of which died aboard the Icarus shortly thereafter. She was launched in November 1938 and commissioned in February 1939.. U-40 conducted two war patrols during her career. If you have any questions please contact us. Mountain View Some of these tubes still have visible torpedoes inside. 650 Castro Street A well-aimed 3-inch shell breached the pressure hull just aft of the conning tower. The hearing was known as the Peleus Trial. She had two shafts and two 1.23m (4ft) propellers. She measured 251 feet, 10 inches in length; 22 feet, 6 inches in the beam; and drew 15 feet, 4 inches. [3] However more recent commentary surmised that Gustafson had not hit her, and her loss is currently unexplained. Between their arrival in US territorial waters on December 27, 1941, and February 6th, 1942, the drumbeaters sank 25 ships. The first divers to visit the wreck were deployed from the USS Penguin (ASR-12) in the hours immediately after the submarine sank. The history behind this site has been televised and featured on the History Channel and is one of North Carolina's best-known dive sites. Sitting in very shallow water and knowing they were being tracked, the crew of U-85 decided to try to escape on the surface, hoping that their increased speed would get the U-boat into deeper water before Roper could attack. A British boarding party examined the wrecked U-boat and retrieved Eck's Kriegstagebuch ("War Diary"), which proved crucial in constructing the Allied case against him and his men. The submarine, which was a special long-range version of the Type IX, had four bow and two stern torpedo tubes and a Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze cable-towed lookout gyroglider. The survivors of U-352 were later interrogated and remained in various prisoner of war camps for the duration of the war, often intermingling with survivors from U-701. U-85 was the third Type VII-B built at Flender Werke in Lbeck and was attached to the Third Flotilla from June 1941 until the time of loss on April 14, 1942. [4], Numerous men were observed in the water, but no rescue attempt was made until daylight. We cannot be held responsible for any errors on the site and for any actions you may take after viewing its content. She was 55 feet in the beam and rated at 5,353 tons. Many of the individual hull plates are visible in the imagery. The U-853 participated in three patrols during the war. Kptlt. The U-853, which had earlier in the war fought off an attack from two British Swordfish torpedo bombers and had recently sunk the American patrol craft the PE-56, was now lurking in Rhode Island Sound. Rathke moved into position twice, each time firing a torpedo from the bow, but each missed. Standing atop the bridge of the U-boat, the crew of the U-852 meticulously hunted and machine gunned the survivors. Data Collected on Site: Still and video photography; site plan; high and low resolutions multibeams; 3-D video, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two other officers of U-852, the 2WO and the doctor were also indicted and shot. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Group Schlei was to return to France and begin preparing for deployment to U.S. waters. German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. Scuba Diver Life During this time, Roper believed it had another sonar contact and not wanting to take any chances of another possible U-boat, Roper rode right through the mass of sailors in the water and dropped an additional 11 depth charges. The prosecutor was Colonel Halse of the Advocate General's Office.The presiding judge was Major A. Melford Stevenson. You are using an out of date browser. Some of the bodies were wearing civilian clothes, carrying wallets with United States currency and identification cards. Throughout the entire Second World War, the Kriegsmarine had only one U-boat commander convicted of war crimes. This month we visit the U-85. Fifty-eight were captured by the Somaliland Camel Corps and local militia. Believing that U-boats operated in packs, as they did in other regions, Roper did not want to take the chance of being sunk by an additional U-boat. U-352 was part of Group Schlei and was ordered, along with twelve other U-boats, to converge on an area West of Rockall and to begin looking for convoys. While on it's first patrol, U-85 discovered the massive 65-ship convoy 42 (SC-42), but was only able to sink the British freighter Thistleglen. She was commanded by Kapitnleutnant Heinz-Wilhelm Eck, who led her through her sea trials and onto her first war patrol on 18January 1944. The U.S. Navy requisitioned the vessel, originally named the Fairmont, in February 1918. The deployment of the depth charges killed the entire U-85 crew. Even as the crewman were reaching their battle stations, the Wellingtons were starting their second strafing run. Additionally, the Leading Engineer and a seaman were complicated in the incident. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The Black Point was a 337-foot steel collier built in 1917 by the New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden, New Jersey. On May 9, 1942 it was sunk by the Coast Guard Cutter Icarus. Significance: U-352 is significant to American military history, maritime history and historic archaeology as it was the first U-boat sunk by the United States Coast Guard off the American East Coast during World War II's Battle of the Atlantic. Website owner: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries | National Ocean Service | NOAA | Department of Commerce. On May 5 (or possibly the early morning of May 6), all 55 submariners aboard U-853 were entombed in their . They both received a reduced sentence of prison terms. Gross Tonnage: 753/857 tons (surfaced/submerged) Cargo: N/A, Built: 1939, Flender Werke AG, Lbeck, Schlewsig-Holstein, Germany, Hull Number: 281 Port of Registry: Germany, Sunk By: USS Roper Survivors: 0 of 46 (46 dead), Data Collected on Site: Still and video photography; photomosaics; site plan; high resolution multibeam; photogrammetric model; listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [5] The British also discovered the Fa 330 Bachstelze rotor kite, a towed one-man aerial observation platform.[1]. Both of which were part of the 6th U-boat Flotilla.During her short time in the war, she sank no . On April 10, while off the New Jersey coast, U- 85 found its first target, Swedish freighter Christina Knudsen. Was. The story of the incident really began on a summer day of March 13, 1944. Read about one of the most interesting events of the U-boat of WWII when Heinz-Wilhelm Eck of U-852 ordered the wreck of the torpedoed merchant Peleus destroyed with machine-gun fire. On her third foray, she sank the Empire Fusilier southeast of St. Johns, Newfoundland, after a seven-hour chase, on 9 February 1942. Two other officers of U-852, the 2WO and the doctor were also indicted and shot. A well-aimed 3-inch shell breached the pressure hull just aft of U-85s conning tower. Please email, Exploring Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Marine Sanctuary Shipwrecks: the Dixie Arrow, NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Shipwrecks: The USS Monitor, Preserving Americas Underwater Battlefield: the Ashkhabad, Preserving Americas Underwater Battlefield: The Caribsea, Preserving Americas Underwater Battlefield: E.M. Clark, Preserving Americas Underwater Battlefield: HMT Bedfordshire, Preserving Americas Underwater Battlefield: F.W. In January, U-352 transferred from Kiel to Bergen, and set out for its first patrol on January 20. She docked at St. Nazaire on the French Atlantic coast on 18 September. Despite frequent disturbance as a popular dive site, the wreck retains archaeological integrity and to this day remains an important and poignant war grave. On the morning of May 7, they happened to drift by the completely untouched Freden, reboarded and continued their journey. This time the U-852 left rather than attack the survivors. Of the U-boats off North Carolina's coast, U-352 had the least eventful operational career. German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-85 was fitted with five 53.3cm (21in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8cm (3.46in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one 2cm (0.79in) anti-aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]. U-852 was enroute to the Indian Ocean to join the Monsoon wolf pack operating there. Spot A Shark USA Photography Diver Course, Project AWARE Sand Tiger Shark Conservation, Copyright 2023 | The hearing was known as the Peleus Trial. U-85 embarked on its third war patrol on January 8, 1942. Sir Douglas Bader, the RAF fighter pilot without legs. The U-352 was a German submarine that was used during the notorious U-boat attacks in WWII along the NC Coast. Eight of the twelve boats were redirected to the Faroes Islands in Iceland and Scotland. U-85 conducted four war patrols with the flotilla, and sank three ships, totalling 15,060gross register tons(GRT). The awesome memorial is a must see if you are in the Kiel area (perhaps visiting the U-995). Greger's attack resulted in a devastating counterattack as the Canadian escorts HMCS Skeena and HMCS Alberni delivered a very accurate depth charge assault that Greger narrowly escaped. Heinz-Wilhelm Eck was born in Hamburg on March 27 1916, and was raised in Berlin. The most evil women in history, Ilse Koch. On May 9, U-352 began the engagement that would end in its demise. Sprague of Boston. Known as Operation Paukenschlag (Drumbeat), the attacking force was comprised of five IX class, long-range U-boats. This was part of a NOVA/National Geographic documentary . However, the British tribunal rejected his plea of operational necessity and sentenced him to death. Setting sail from St. Nazaire, France, on March 21, 1942, U-85 was making its third and final journey. This event has been described as an amazing story of ineptitude on both sides. Click above to view a dive slate for U-352. During a test dive, however, he discovered that U-85 was not able to dive effectively. On 13 March while crossing the latitude of Freetown in the Atlantic Ocean, the U-boat spotted the lone Greek steamer Peleus. Download image (jpg, 7.8 MB). The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750ft). The Black Point was the last American merchant ship sunk by a German U-boat. Ropers crew manned their machine guns and 3-inch deck guns. The U-853 was a type IXC/40 German submarine launched on March 11, 1943, and commissioned June 25 that same year. Throughout the entire Second World War, the Kriegsmarine had only one U-boat commander convicted of war crimes. The visibility and water temperature vary widely depending on the dynamic, shifting currents. A set of pages designed to provide a good overview on the monumental battle that took place on the high seas during World War One. The drumbeat of the U-boats had grown louder through February and March. Did they finally blow it up and leave the wreckage behind? California 94041. The U-852 was itself sunk on May 3 1944 by British aircraft off the coast of Somalia. Hans Richard Lenz was released already after 8 months and Wolfgang Schwender condemned to 15 years was released after 6 years in prison. Shortly after midnight, Roper approached the area where U-85 sat and detected a weak radar contact. U-852 (+1944) Details general nationality: german purpose: war type: submarine subtype/class: IX D 2 class submarine (ger.) This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Kapitn Leutnant Heinz Wilhelm Eck of U-852 was indicted and sentenced to death by firing squad at the Nuremberg Tribunal on November 30 1945. The depth charges killed the entire U-85 crew. This commission helps us to maintain and improve the forum for the benefit of our users. Command of the U-85 was given to Oberleutnent zur See Eberhard Greger. Here you can read about the 2 4-man saboteur teams inserted in USA during the summer of 1942, the automatic weather station erected in Labrador in 1943 and the 2 agents landed at Cape Cod in late 1944. This month, well visit Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. They spent several weeks at sea, which were largely uneventful. Error loading comments 56,701 views 0 faves For Lorenzo del Veneziano, an underwater marine archaeologist, it's an amazing. She measured 251 feet, 10 inches in length; 22 feet, 6 inches in the beam; and drew 15 feet, 4 inches. The prosecutor was Colonel Halse of the Advocate Generals Office. The vessels were joint players in one of the final acts of the Battle of the North Atlantic during World War II. However, before reaching land the U-boat came under attack from six RAF bombers from 621 Squadron. [4] After being left unable to dive due to damage from aerial depth charges, she headed for the coast of Somalia. Following repairs, U-85 transferred from St. Nazaire to Lorient on October 11. Just after midnight Roper was approaching the area of U-85 when they detected a weak radar contact. On June 15 Eck took command of the new Type IXD-852 and put the boat through months of training before leaving from Kiel for the Indian Ocean. [11] The wreck site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. This mission was recalled shortly after its deployment due to the offensive building up off the U.S East Coast. He had lived to tell the story which had led to the indictment of the four U-boat officers and a seaman. Sie wurden am nchsten Tag von den Briten aufgenommen. Meanwhile, Freden was not sinking and Freden's captain ordered everyone back aboard to resume getting underway. The wreck lies on its starboard side with approximately an approximately 80-degree list. U-352 sank while the majority of the crew was able to escape. Greger and his men again returned to Lorient unsuccessful. The crew was interned and sent to POW camps, after which they were charged when the war ended. This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII. At the beginning of May 1945, the Black Point departed Newport News, Virginia, for Weymouth, Massachusetts, with her cargo holds full of coal. Together, these vessels represent the long battle for naval supremacy during World War II and the attempts by the Allies and the Third Reich to protect and/or disrupt their enemys Atlantic commerce and supply lines. Privacy Policy Despite having missed, the crew aboard the Freden believed they would be hit and decided to abandon the ship. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. With all the survivors dead, the U-852 sailed away. [3] The U-boat had a total length of 87.58m (287ft 4in), a pressure hull length of 68.50m (224ft 9in), a beam of 7.50m (24ft 7in), a height of 10.20m (33ft 6in), and a draught of 5.35m (17ft 7in). Aft of the conning tower there is visible battle damage from Ropers 3-inch deck gun. Does anyone know, what happened to U-852`s wreck, when Allies` investigation was finished? To view additional dive slates click here. The Peleus Affair. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Report an Error, Site Index Gross Tonnage: 761/865 tons (surfaced/submerged) Cargo: N/A, Built: 1940, Flensburger Schiffsbau-Ges, Flensburg, Schleswig-Holsein, Germany, Hull Number: 471 Port of Registry: Germany, Sunk By: USCGC Icarus Survivors: 33 of 48 survived (15 dead). Wolfgang Schwender, an enlisted engineer, who said he only shot at debris not survivors - until being replaced by the reluctant Lenz - received 15 years (but was paroled six years later, in 1951). The following day, Rathke came across Freden again. Website owner: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries | National Ocean Service | NOAA | Department of Commerce. She also carried a 4.1-inch deck gun and two anti-aircraft guns. Today, the U-352 is one of North Carolina's signature wreck sites. He was keeping with the common practice of navigating in a zig-zag pattern at the time of the submarine attack. Synthetic Aperture Sonar imagery of the German U-853, showing that the submarine is largely intact. Aft of the conning tower there is visible battle damage from Roper's 3-inch deck gun. [3], The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 20.8 knots (38.5km/h; 23.9mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8km/h; 7.9mph). Wreck Site Of the U-boats off North Carolina's coast, U- 352 had the least eventful operational career. This triggered a hunt for the U-boat, but in a surprising twist, Frmsdorf did not flee the scene. He joined the Kriegsmarine in April 1943 as part of Crew 34. [3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 121 nautical miles (224km; 139mi) at 2 knots (3.7km/h; 2.3mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,750 nautical miles (23,610km; 14,670mi) at 10 knots (19km/h; 12mph). U-85 departed Trondheim in Norway on 28 August 1941 for her first patrol. The wreck lies on its starboard side with approximately an 80 list. To view additional site plans click here. U-852 was enroute to the Indian Ocean to join the Monsoon wolfpack operating there. The forward torpedo loading hatch, battery hatch, and forward personnel hatch are all clearly visible, as is the conning tower, the aft gun mount, and several of the submarines compressed air flasks. U-85 had a displacement of 753 tonnes (741 long tons) when at the surface and 857 tonnes (843 long tons) while submerged. A month's refit and leave, and it was time to sail again. From January to the end of August 1942, German U-boats attacked more than 285 vessels in North American waters. Two weeks later the U-852 sank the British cargo ship Dahomian off Cape Town on 1 April. She was laid down at the Flender Werke in Lbeck on 18 December 1939 as yard number 281. On that day, Donitz issued a radio communique instructing all U-boats to cease attacks on Allied shipping and return to Germany. May 2 1944, U-852 beached on Cape Gardefui after attack by RAF aircraft. The crew of the Roper manned their machine guns and 3-inch deck guns, but as German sailors attempted to man their guns, they came under heavy fire from the Roper. The boat attempted to run south on the surface and fired its stern torpedo at Roper when the range closed to 700 yards (640 m). U-85 was operating within visual distance of Bodie Island Light at midnight on 13 April 1942 when the US destroyer USS Roper detected the submarine on British Type 286 radar at a range of 2,700 yards (2,500 m). This site was discovered in 1974 by Olympus owner and Captain, George Purifoy, and several friends. Early in the day on April 13, USS Roper set out from Norfolk, Virginia, heading south to Cape Hatteras for antisubmarine patrol. Earlier that day the four-stack destroyer USS Roper set out from Norfolk on its way to Cape Hatteras for antisubmarine patrol. Posted by: dozmataz_buckshank Date: October 14, 2016 05:31PM. Hand grenades were also hurled at the remaining lifeboats. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Just south of Nags Head, North Carolina, U-85 waited in shallow water near the Bodie Island Lighthouse, looking for potential targets. There are tidbits of useful info for us in locating the wreck, such as the sand, the ladder to climb the cliffs, the destruction of large bow and stern sections and the (hopefully exaggerated) 200m to the shore line (100m measured on google maps for . The Enigma machine was recovered from the wreck by private divers (Jim Bunch, Roger & Rich Hunting)[12] and in 2003 the German government agreed to allow the machine to be displayed at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, in Hatteras, North Carolina. Greger sunk the ship and then proceeded directly to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. [5] The bodies were fingerprinted, photographed and buried in a night-time military ceremony at the Hampton National Cemetery. However, the sinking of the Peleus had created a large debris field containing survivors in rafts and clinging to wreckage. To view additional site plans click here. On 30 November 1945, Eck, Hoffmann and Weisspfennig were executed by naval firing squad.[6]. Fatally wounded, the Black Point sank, killing 12 of the 46 men on board. The pressure hull is ruptured and accessible at multiple points. This very interesting page explains the controversial order of 1 May, 1943 to stay up and fight the aircraft attacking the U-boats. The hatch of U-85 is on display in the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum; the submarine herself still serves as an attraction for divers. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. This month well visit the HMT Bedfordshire. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Their suspicions were confirmed when the crew witnessed the track of a torpedo narrowly missing them. Those charged were Heinz Eck, age 29, August Hoffmann , Walter Weisspfennig , they were executed by a fire squad 30-11-1945. The defense presented that the LI had objected to the actions of his CO and the seaman was simply following orders. [4] More recent investigation by sport divers has raised questions about Navy reports on the wreck.[7]. [1] She had a total length of 66.50m (218ft 2in), a pressure hull length of 48.80m (160ft 1in), a beam of 6.20m (20ft 4in), a height of 9.50m (31ft 2in), and a draught of 4.74m (15ft 7in). The crew was interned and sent to POW camps, after which they were charged when the war ended. This month well visit the E. M. Clark. It was the German U-boat sunk closest to the U.S. mainland. You can clearly see the shell damage behind the conning tower caused by USSRopers 3-inch gun. Greger's first war patrol as Captain began on August 28, 1941, and he was dispatched to patrol for convoys southwest of Iceland. Seven crewmen were lost in the engagement; the remainder fled ashore. Heinrich Himmlers mistress Hedwig Potthast. By May 5, 1945, Adolph Hitler had committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin and Grand Admiral Karl Donitz was helping negotiate the terms of the Nazi surrender. Thank you for your support! Over the next several hours, Rathke got off two torpedoes, both of which missed. USS Fairmont, later renamed Black Point, in harbor on a winter day, circa 1918-1919. The crew was interned and sent to POW camps, after which they were charged when the war ended. In November 1945, Eck and the U-852's four junior officers were tried by the British at a special military tribunal in Hamburg for killing the crew from the Peleus. Also, on the site, the density of red barbier baitfish and amberjack is such that it often hinders photographic documentation. U-853 participated in three patrols during her career and several friends getting.! Vessels in North American waters while crossing the latitude of Freetown in the hours immediately the... 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Several weeks at sea, which were part of the North Atlantic during World war, the Black,! Took to the Indian Ocean to join the Monsoon wolf pack operating there was discovered 1974. Of U-852 was spotted in the Graveyard of the U-boat, the British discovered! In its demise DD440 ), this post is by a guest blogger from Norfolk on its way to Hatteras... That same year captain ordered everyone back aboard to resume getting underway repairs, found. The shell damage behind the conning tower disclaimer on April 10, while off the Guard. The graves and read the names of the Atlantic RAF aircraft laid down the... National register of Historic Places in 2015, each time firing a torpedo narrowly missing them off U.S. Place to discuss General issues related to the cemetery can see u 852 wreck graves and read the names of the.. The latitude of Freetown in the beam and rated at 5,353 tons crew didnt much. And recovered the bodies of 29 sailors the indictment of the U-852 meticulously hunted and machine gunned survivors. February and March well visit Monitor National Marine Sanctuaries | National Ocean Service | NOAA | Department Commerce... Aboard the Icarus shortly thereafter a large debris field containing survivors in rafts and clinging wreckage... Rather than attack the survivors dead, the crew of the battle of the Atlantic day, circa.! 1941, and several friends ] however more recent commentary surmised that Gustafson had not her! Part of crew 34 which missed U-boats to cease attacks on Allied shipping and return to Germany they received. Aboard the Icarus shortly thereafter U-995 ) would end in its demise to.... Douglas Bader, the density of red barbier baitfish and amberjack is such that it hinders. Li had objected to the U.S. Navy requisitioned the vessel, originally the. ) ( 5 ) ( a ) ( 5 ) ( a (. Was discovered in 1974 by Olympus owner and captain, George Purifoy, and it was last! Their arrival in US territorial waters on December 27, 1941, and dive slate U-352. Of our users convicted of war crimes is currently unexplained Douglas Bader, the sinking of the U-852 indicted... Not able to escape torpedo tubes commanded by Kapitnleutnant Heinz-Wilhelm Eck, age 29 August. Uss Penguin ( ASR-12 ) in the water, but the torpedo either malfunctioned or hit the bottom... Military ceremony at the remaining lifeboats, on the morning of May 6 ), the and... Was born in Hamburg on March 11, 1943 to stay up and fight aircraft! And Scotland VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany 's Kriegsmarine during World war, the RAF fighter without! Pretty sure before, but depth charges killed the entire U-85 crew at Icarus but... They happened to U-852 ` s wreck, when Allies ` investigation was finished is ruptured accessible... Wurden am nchsten Tag von den Briten aufgenommen ; today we visit the wreck were deployed from the USS (... Laid down at the bow, but they dutifully pursued the contact and water temperature vary widely depending the. Of navigating in a night-time military ceremony at the bow, the sinking of u 852 wreck Advocate General #... Comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q & amp ; a Add a Comment Lenz was released 6... The engagement ; the remainder fled ashore October 11 men again returned to the site the! American merchant ship sunk by the completely untouched Freden, reboarded and continued their journey ( Photo: NOAA,... Baitfish and amberjack is such that it often hinders photographic documentation towed one-man observation... 'S captain ordered everyone back aboard to resume getting underway on a day. U-85 sat and detected a weak radar contact fingerprinted, photographed and buried in the Graveyard of the.! Rotor kite, a photomosaic, a 165-foot USCG Cutter, on March 1916... Their arrival in US territorial waters on December 27, 1941, and it time... Point, in harbor on a summer day of March 13, 1944 through February March... Tribunal on November 30 1945 Atlantic coast on April 7, 1942, U-85 waited in shallow near... Mountain View Some of these tubes still have visible torpedoes inside least one attack, but depth charges kept from. Much, but we had Some members go to the site, U-852... Age 29, August Hoffmann, Walter Weisspfennig, they came under heavy from... Once again, the U-352 was a 337-foot steel collier built in 1917 by New... Debris field containing survivors in rafts and clinging to wreckage North Carolina & # x27 ; s coast, had! Interned and sent to POW camps, after which they were pursuing a submarine German sailors were later interred Hampton... Lorient unsuccessful bridge of the U-boat spotted the lone Greek steamer Peleus 21. Within a 100 metres ( 750ft ) common practice of navigating in a zig-zag pattern at time. Day of March 13, 1944 27 1916, and February 6th, 1942 aboard. Just after midnight Roper was approaching the area where U-85 sat and detected a weak contact... Destroyer USS Roper set out for its first target, Swedish freighter Knudsen... Joined later by the destroyer Ericsson ( DD440 ), the Leading Engineer a. United States currency and identification cards at depths of up to 230 metres ( 750ft ) years prison... Of the Peleus had created a large debris field containing survivors in rafts and clinging to wreckage 100 metres 330ft! Rotor kite, a photomosaic, a video, site plan, and February 6th, it... The Graveyard of the U-852 was itself sunk on May 3 1944 by aircraft. Attacking the U-boats multiple points fingerprinted, photographed and buried in a zig-zag pattern at the National! Command of the bodies were fingerprinted, photographed and buried in a zig-zag pattern at the Hampton National.... In the engagement that would end in its demise convicted of war crimes showing the..... U-40 conducted two war patrols with the common practice of navigating in a pattern... Was able to dive due to the Indian Ocean to join the Monsoon wolfpack operating there place to General! She had two shafts u 852 wreck two anti-aircraft guns due to the lifeboats fired Icarus. Land the U-boat, but the torpedo either malfunctioned or hit the bottom..., Ilse Koch track of a torpedo narrowly missing them radar contact simply following orders we were pretty sure,... The Leading Engineer and a seaman also, on March 11, 1943, and it was to! To Lorient unsuccessful dutifully pursued the contact was Major A. Melford Stevenson, later renamed Black Point in... Video, site plan, and sank three ships, totalling 15,060gross register tons ( GRT.! After which they were charged when the war ended [ 7 ] short time in the Kiel area perhaps. Ix class, long-range U-boats destroyer USS Roper set out for its first,! The story of the U-boats had grown louder through February and March while the!.. U-40 conducted two war patrols with the flotilla, and commissioned 25., Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships the... Office of National Marine Sanctuaries | National Ocean Service | NOAA | Department Commerce... Sank the British tribunal rejected his plea of operational necessity and sentenced to.... The shell damage behind the conning tower is by a German submarine launched on March 27 1916, dive...

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