Wreck of German U-26 submarine found

In recent days the media has circulated information about finding the wreck of the German submarine U-26, which disappeared without a trace in the early autumn of 1915. Behind this interesting discovery is well known to our readers group of technical divers from Finland – Badewanne.

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In an account given to the local media, the discoverers were, as usual, sparing with details and only confirmed that the wreck of the U-26, lost nearly 100 years ago, is located in the western Gulf of Finland.

The ship was built in Kiel by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft A.G., one of the most important shipyards producing submarines for the Kaiselischer Marine and later for the Kriegsmarine. The vessel measured 64.7m long and 6.32m wide. The propulsion system on the surface consisted of two diesel engines with a total output of 1800 hp, allowing a speed of 16.7 knots. When submerged, on the other hand, two electric motors with a combined power of 1200 hp translated into a speed of 10.3 knots were used. Armament included 16 torpedoes, a 105mm deck gun and a second, smaller 88m gun. The whole ship was manned by 35 crew members.

Her construction started already in 1911, and the keel was laid on 31 May 1912. U-26 was completed and launched on 16 October 1913, and on 20 May 1914. She was put into service. From 1 August 1914 she served in the 4th Flotilla commanded by Captain Egewolf Frhr. von Berckheim. During that service the crew recorded the sinking of 5 enemy ships.

In October 1914r. The ship is included into the Baltic Fleet. It did not have to wait long for the first successes. Already during her first patrol, the U-26 noticed a group of warships belonging to the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Empire. As a result of these events, on October 11, 1914, the Russian battleship “Palladha” returning to Tallinn was sent to the bottom with 594 crew members.

Russian battleship “Palladha” sunk by U-26

The next victim of the German submarine was the Russian mine-layer “Yenisei” torpedoed on 4 June 1915 off the coast of Estonia. The last recorded hit on the U-26’s account was the Russian steamer “Zemlya”, sunk on 30 August 1915. More or less at this point, the history of the unit was interrupted for almost 100 years.

During its service, the ship went down in gold in the history of German naval warfare. It was the pride of the Imperial Fleet due to its excellent performance in confrontations with enemy ships. According to the most probable scenario, the U-26 was sunk when it ran into a Russian minefield, which blocked German ships from entering the Gulf of Finland.

Certainly, all ambiguities regarding the disappearance of the U-26 will be resolved as the exploration progresses. In the meantime, it remains for us to wait and, at most, pin another marker marking a new wreck on the map of the Baltic Sea.

Source: neurope.eu, badewane.fi
Photo:Jouni Polkko / Sukellustutkimusryhmä Badewanne