Indonesia: the wreck of a German U-boat has been found

Listen to this article In the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia, divers have discovered the rusted remains of a World War II submarine. They came across the wreck thanks to information provided by local fishermen. Archaeologists took an immediate interest in the vessel. Experts say it is an unprecedented discovery and the first

ByTomasz Andrukajtis

Published: November 22, 2013 - 00:28

Updated: July 22, 2023 - 03:41

Indonesia: the wreck of a German U-boat has been found

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In the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia, divers have discovered the rusted remains of a World War II submarine. They came across the wreck thanks to information provided by local fishermen.

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Archaeologists took an immediate interest in the vessel. Experts say it is an unprecedented discovery and the first of its kind near Karinmujawa Island.

A group of divers managed to get inside the wreck. During the exploration of the interior human remains were found, as well as various objects such as binoculars, batteries, plates decorated with characteristic swastika emblems and various Nazi symbols.

According to surviving German archives, two German submarines were lost in the Indonesian area. As a result of the research, experts are unable to confirm whether the wreck found is U-168, which was torpedoed by the Dutch submarine Zwaardvisch in 1944, or U-183, destroyed a year later by the US destroyer USS Besugo.

Nevertheless, experts say that such a discovery will bring closer and provide greater insight into the overall military operations conducted in areas of the South-East Pacific.

Source: spiegel.de

About author

Tomasz Andrukajtis

Editor-in-chief of the DIVERS24 portal and magazine. Responsible for obtaining, translating and developing content. He also supervises all publications. Achived his first diving certification – P1 CMAS, in 2000. Has a degree in journalism and social communication. In the diving industry since 2008.