A German U-boat from World War Two has been found off the coast of Devon, England, after 82 years underwater. Source: metro.co.uk.
What Was Found
The wreck identified as U-672 lies about 20 miles off Salcombe, in the English Channel.
It was damaged in 1944 by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Balfour.
How Was It Identified?
Divers from Plymouth’s Gasperados Dive Team discovered the wreck during a survey mission.
They identified key features including a snorkel system and a conning tower.
These components matched known equipment from U-672, a submarine historically noted for having a pig painted on its conning tower.
Personal Reaction from a Diver
Dominic Robinson, a member of the Gasperados team, said he recognized the features early on.
He stated: ‘I saw the snorkel, I saw the conning tower, all those kind of things – I knew that we were going to get the video needed to identify it, so I was really pleased about that.’
What Happened to the Crew?
Its captain made a decision to allow the submarine to float to the surface, giving the crew a final chance to survive.
Once the vessel was no longer a threat, the captain intentionally sank it to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
All 52 crew members survived and were later captured and returned to Germany.
Why Was It So Hard to Find?
The location of the sinking was recorded incorrectly in official records.
Due to a clerical error, the coordinates were listed as being 46 miles away from the actual site.
This error meant that no one could locate the wreck until now.
Historian’s Explanation
Dr Axel Niestle, a specialist in U-boat history, confirmed the error was due to a clerical mistake.
He said the position was recorded ‘some 46 miles’ away from the true location.
Response from the Captain’s Family
Robinson spoke with the family of the captain.
They said the man lived a ‘long and happy life’.
They added: ‘They just said how proud he would have been and how pleased he would have been to know that it had been found at last.’
The discovery marks a significant moment in the recovery of wartime maritime history.
It also highlights how errors in record-keeping can delay the discovery of historical objects for decades.
For more on wartime history in the UK, see our coverage of World War II discoveries at metro.co.uk/tag/germany/ or metro.co.uk/tag/devon/.
For updates on similar discoveries, visit metro.co.uk/tag/plymouth/.
For more on the history of naval warfare, explore Craig Destroys Denzel’s Life in EastEnders.
Sources & further reading
Featured image: original publisher image. Via original publisher. Image source
