SM UB-65

SM "UB-65" was a German Type UB III U-boat commissioned on August 18, 1917 that sank 9 ships before it was lost off the north coast of Cornwall. An expedition mounted in 2004 as part of the Channel 4 "Wreck Detectives" underwater archaeological TV series to survey a previously unidentified U-boat wreck that had been located earlier during a routine survey by the Royal Navy confirmed the identity of the boat as "UB-65". Inspection of the wreck by submarine archaeologist Innes McCartney and U Boat historial Dr. Axel Niestlé (through identification of design features such as the type of deck gun, and identification numbers that were stamped on one of her propellers) proved conclusively that the wreck was that of UB-65. A survey of the wreck showed no obvious indication of weapon attack being the cause of loss (although this could not be ruled out; shock damage from a depth charge attack could have caused loss trough failure of internal seawater systems and hull penetrations that would not be obvious from an external examination). The aft hatches are open indicating a possible attempt by at least some of the crew to escape from the vessel. Consideration of the various observations of the wreck, along with historical oservations regarding depth control and handling difficulties on diving experienced by other boats of the class, led to a conclusion that she was most likely lost through accidental causes on or after July 14, 1918, the date of the sinking of a Portuguese vessel in the Padstow area. All of her crew of 37 were listed as lost. Having been identified as UB-65 the wreck was given "protected place" status under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 on November 1st 2006.

Previous Beliefs Regarding Loss

The identification of the Padstow u-boat wreck corrected the earlier accepted version of UB-65's loss. According to official German Naval records the boat was presumed lost following a premature explosion of one of her own torpedoes on July 10, 1918, south of the Irish coast. According to US Naval records it was reported that, whilst returning from patrol and near Fastnet Rock, the US submarine AL-2 observed a submarine periscope, followed by an explosion. The sound of small propellers and an underwater signalling device could be heard for a short while after the explosion. The identity of the submarine and the cause of the explosion was not known. After the war the identity of the boat was presumed to be UB-65; cause of loss was unknown but a mine or torpedo from another submarine in the area, or sinking by one of her own torpedoes that malfunctioned were assumed.

RECORD ITEM Y1022 ROLL ONI ROLL
PG 61825 58 TA-17-D

Admiralstab der Marine, Abt. A, KTB, Band 1, U.B.65 der V.U.Flottille und der II. U. Flottille.
Kommandant: Kaptlt. Schelle.
U.B.65 conducted operations in the Irish Sea, the western Hebrides, and Saint George's Channel.U.B.65 sank among other vessels an unidentified British armed vessel (probably the sloop Arbutus) on Dec 15, 1917; the Norwegian steamer "Havana" (1,150 t), Mar 5, 1918; and the British steamer "Pensilva" (4,316 t), May 4, 1918.U.B.65 departed from Helgoland Jul 2, 1918, for war operations and was accidentally sunk on Jul 10, 1918.

_{National Archives and Records Service U.S. General Services Administration Washington:1984}

It is the subject of many tales of ghosts. [cite web|url=http://perdurabo10.tripod.com/ships/id172.html|title=Haunting of German Submarine U-65|last=Donahue|first=James|accessdate=2008-10-09] [ [http://www.nzghosts.co.nz/sea.htm UB-65_A_German_submarine] ] cite book | title=Strange Stories, Amazing Facts| last=Digest| first=Reader's| date=1975| pages=384| publisher=Reader's Digest | chapter=Ghost on the prow ]

References

External links

* [http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=UB+65 uboat.net webpage about "UB-65"]
* [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20062616.htm SI 2006/2616] Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986