Dutch navy finds sunken German submarine

Feuer Frei! · 03-16-11, 09:06 AM

THE Dutch navy has discovered the wreck of a German World War I submarine sunk by a mine on its maiden voyage and the remains will become an official war grave, the Dutch Defense Ministry announced today. The wreck of the U-106 is lying on the seabed 40 metres underwater. It is 65 kilometres north of Terschelling, an island in the Wadden Sea off the northern Netherlands.
The sub sank in October 1917 after hitting a mine with the loss of all 41 crew, Dutch navy spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Robin Middel told The Associated Press.
The 71-metre sub fell foul of an allied minefield in the North Sea at the end of its first voyage, during which it had torpedoed two British ships, Middel said.
Normally the German U-boats would be guided through the mines by a surface ship capable of detecting the explosives, Middel said, but on its ill-fated voyage the sub ran into a newly laid British mine.
The sub "was to make a rendezvous with that ship, but the ship never found the submarine and nobody had ever heard anything more from it," Middel said.
The wreck was first discovered in October 2009, during mapping of North Sea shipping routes. The find was only announced after the Dutch Defence Ministry authorities confirmed its identity with German authorities and informed relatives of the missing submariners.
The Dutch navy initially believed the wreck was a Dutch submarine, 0-13, that went missing during World War II, but divers and remote cameras later confirmed it was the U-106.
"This kind of discovery is almost always an accident," said Captain Lieutenant Jouke Spoelstra, who led the project to identify the wreck. "Years ago, a hydrographical service ship passed the same spot but at that time the wreck was buried beneath a layer of sand."
The navy said the wreck will remain where it is and be considered an official war grave. It is possible that a commemoration service will be held if relatives of the submariners request it.

SOURCE

AVGWarhawk · 03-16-11, 10:27 AM

Wish there were pics. I assume the wreck is still covered in sand or was the sand moved to see the submarine?

Herr-Berbunch · 03-16-11, 11:12 AM

There is this image, not a proper photo but the best we'll get for now.

Feuer Frei! · 03-16-11, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

There is this image, not a proper photo but the best we'll get for now.

What is that of? Obviously a spotlight shining on it, but, is it a tear in a part of the hull? Or is it a cloth material? Is that a seam at the bottom?

Certainly doesn't look metal.

Herr-Berbunch · 03-16-11, 11:27 AM

I think it's just the hydrographer's computerised image of U-106, taken with whatever modern equipment they use nowadays to map the sea bed. Could just be no returned data for that area.

Or a big scary sea-monster they've redacted out!

AVGWarhawk · 03-16-11, 11:30 AM

Looks like a submarine to me.

03-16-11, 09:06 AM	#1
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	Dutch navy finds sunken German submarine THE Dutch navy has discovered the wreck of a German World War I submarine sunk by a mine on its maiden voyage and the remains will become an official war grave, the Dutch Defense Ministry announced today. The wreck of the U-106 is lying on the seabed 40 metres underwater. It is 65 kilometres north of Terschelling, an island in the Wadden Sea off the northern Netherlands. The sub sank in October 1917 after hitting a mine with the loss of all 41 crew, Dutch navy spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Robin Middel told The Associated Press. The 71-metre sub fell foul of an allied minefield in the North Sea at the end of its first voyage, during which it had torpedoed two British ships, Middel said. Normally the German U-boats would be guided through the mines by a surface ship capable of detecting the explosives, Middel said, but on its ill-fated voyage the sub ran into a newly laid British mine. The sub "was to make a rendezvous with that ship, but the ship never found the submarine and nobody had ever heard anything more from it," Middel said. The wreck was first discovered in October 2009, during mapping of North Sea shipping routes. The find was only announced after the Dutch Defence Ministry authorities confirmed its identity with German authorities and informed relatives of the missing submariners. The Dutch navy initially believed the wreck was a Dutch submarine, 0-13, that went missing during World War II, but divers and remote cameras later confirmed it was the U-106. "This kind of discovery is almost always an accident," said Captain Lieutenant Jouke Spoelstra, who led the project to identify the wreck. "Years ago, a hydrographical service ship passed the same spot but at that time the wreck was buried beneath a layer of sand." The navy said the wreck will remain where it is and be considered an official war grave. It is possible that a commemoration service will be held if relatives of the submariners request it. SOURCE __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

03-16-11, 10:27 AM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Wish there were pics. I assume the wreck is still covered in sand or was the sand moved to see the submarine? __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

03-16-11, 11:12 AM	#3
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	There is this image, not a proper photo but the best we'll get for now. __________________

03-16-11, 11:27 AM	#5
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	I think it's just the hydrographer's computerised image of U-106, taken with whatever modern equipment they use nowadays to map the sea bed. Could just be no returned data for that area. Or a big scary sea-monster they've redacted out! __________________

03-16-11, 11:30 AM	#6
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Looks like a submarine to me. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road