Wreck of German submarine found at the bottom of the North Sea - video

Representatives of the Danish Maritime Authority have announced the discovery of the wreck of a German submarine, dating from the First World War. The discovered wreck is most likely the SM UC-30, which sank after running into a mine on 21 April 1917.

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The unit serving in the German Imperial Navy – Kaiserliche Marine, had the task of sinking enemy ships using mines and torpedoes. During her service between 22 August 1916 and 21 April 1917, the crew of SM UC-30 conducted four patrols, during which she sank three merchant ships and two enemy ships. Among the victims of the German submariners were the Norwegian ship “Romance”, the Argentine ship “Monte Protegido”, the British ship “Hunstanton” and the Royal Navy ships HMT “Euston” and HMT “Recepto”.

The wreck was recently discovered by JD-Contractor A/S during a survey of the North Sea floor near Esbjerg, Denmark. The remains were examined using multibeam sonar and a 3D model of the ship was made.

The site of the sinking of the German ship has been opened to divers. The wreck was explored and the work revealed that eighteen mines and six torpedoes were still on the site.

The ship SM UC-30 belonged to the German UC II class. The ship measured 49.45 metres long and 5.22 metres wide. When afloat, her two diesel engines allowed her to develop a speed of 11.6 knots, while when submerged and using electric motors, the ship could develop a speed of 6.7 knots. The maximum draught of this class was 50 metres.

A separate curiosity is the person of the captain of SM UC-30 – Heinrich Stenzler. According to available information, in 1917 the sea cast ashore the body of a 30-year-old man, dressed in an officer’s uniform of the German Imperial Fleet. The parish priest of nearby Sønder Nissum, unfamiliar with military insignia, took the man for an airman whose plane had been shot down over the sea, and then took charge of his burial.

Later, representatives of German diplomacy contacted church authorities and informed them of the probable identity of the buried man. As a result, the body was exhumed and taken to Captain Stenzler’s hometown. Some time later, the parish priest received a letter of thanks from the mother and water of the young captain.

Source: wikipedia.org, subseaworldnews.com, JD-Contractor A/S