She sank the Thistleglen on 10 September northeast of Cape Farewell (Greenland). Read about one of the most interesting events of the U-boat of WWII when Heinz-Wilhelm Eck of U-852 ordered the wreck of the torpedoed merchant Peleus destroyed with machine-gun fire. The last, under the command of Helmut Frmsdorf, intersected with the end of World War II in the Atlantic. Amid the sinking wreckage were the survivors jammed packed in lifeboats and rafts. The crew was captured and later tried for war crimes. This was the birth of the U-boat as an offensive weapon. The U.S. Navy requisitioned the vessel, originally named the Fairmont, in February 1918. During the journey, Eck torpedoed and sank the Greek tramp steamer, SS Peleus. Either way, as the Black Point came into range off Point Judith, Rhode Island, at 5:40 pm on May 5, Frmsdorf fired a torpedo that upon impact blew away about 40 feet of the merchant ships stern. This month, well visit Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Both of which were part of the 6th U-boat Flotilla.During her short time in the war, she sank no . Although, U-352 encountered no serious damage on its first patrol, no ships were sunk either. After the war, she was returned to her original owner, only to be sold two years later to the Hawaiian Steamship Company of New York and renamed the Nebraskan. Greger's attack resulted in a devastating counterattack as the Canadian escorts HMCS Skeena and HMCS Alberni delivered a very accurate depth charge assault that Greger narrowly escaped. The Allies came into possession of an Fa 330 in May 1944 when they captured the U-852 intact. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Rathke attempted to carry out at least one attack, but depth charges kept him from being successful. U-85 was operating within visual distance of Bodie Island Light at midnight on 13 April 1942 when the US destroyer USS Roper detected the submarine on British Type 286 radar at a range of 2,700 yards (2,500 m). Rathke spotted Icarus, a 165-foot USCG Cutter, on antisubmarine patrol off Cape Lookout. The Freden crew drifted in their lifeboats all night. A mysterious lost WWII submarine, German U-boat U-455 is discovered off the coast of Italy at 120 meters deep. Their suspicions came true when the crew witnessed the track of a torpedo narrowly missing the Roper as it ran down the port side. Here you can read about the 2 4-man saboteur teams inserted in USA during the summer of 1942, the automatic weather station erected in Labrador in 1943 and the 2 agents landed at Cape Cod in late 1944. Firing two torpedoes, U-85 sank the Swedish freighter Christina Knudsen, and then proceeded directly for Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The U-boat had been claimed to have been sunk by depth charge hedgehogs off the coast of Massachusetts on 7 April 1945 by USS Gustafson and was also thought to have been possibly sunk by USS Coffman. One survivor managed to escape and was eventually rescued by allied ships. They both received a reduced sentence of prison terms. The wreck lies on its starboard side with approximately an approximately 80-degree list. U-852. This site was discovered in 1974 by Olympus owner and Captain, George Purifoy, and several friends. [1] When submerged, the boat could operate for 90 nautical miles (170km; 100mi) at 4 knots (7.4km/h; 4.6mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,700 nautical miles (16,100km; 10,000mi) at 10 knots (19km/h; 12mph). We visit this site on average 2-3 times per week, so come check it out and become a part of history with us! For Lorenzo del Veneziano, an underwater marine archaeologist, it's an amazing. The hearing was known as the Peleus Trial. Two weeks later the U-852 sank the British cargo ship Dahomian off Cape Town on 1 April. High-resolution mapping of the site shows the vessel lying keel up on the ocean floor with the bow pointing to the northeast. [3] However more recent commentary surmised that Gustafson had not hit her, and her loss is currently unexplained. On 30 November 1945, Eck, Hoffmann and Weisspfennig were executed by naval firing squad.[6]. This month well visit the HMT Bedfordshire. He had lived to tell the story which had led to the indictment of the four U-boat officers and a seaman. There were only three survivors from the 35-man Peleus. Website owner: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries | National Ocean Service | NOAA | Department of Commerce. Nine crew members were lost. By then, there were no survivors among the 29 bodies floating in life jackets. The prosecutor was Colonel Halse of the Advocate General's Office.The presiding judge was Major A. Melford Stevenson. Shown here is the wreck of the Type IXD 2 submarine U-852 off the coast of British Somaliland (Somalia) in May 1944 after being scuttled by her skipper Kapitanleutnant Heinz Eck. Read about one of the most interesting events of the U-boat of WWII when Heinz-Wilhelm Eck of U-852 ordered the wreck of the torpedoed merchant Peleus destroyed with machine-gun fire. Greger and his men again returned to Lorient unsuccessful. U-852 (wreck) 832 km; Military Base 1210 km; Camp Khanjar 1330 km; Military Drone Airbase 1688 km; Royal Air Force of Oman Base 1732 km; Al Sulayyil ballistic missile base 1785 km; Mandar al Dhibiyan 1962 km; Masirah Island 2295 km; Royal Air Force of Oman Base 2312 km; Indian Island 2320 km To view additional dive slates click here. Even as the crewman were reaching their battle stations, the Wellingtons were starting their second strafing run. Sea life at the site of U-352 is prolific and typical of a sub-tropical marine ecosystem. The drumbeat of the U-boats had grown louder through February and March. SAS imagery of the Black Point showing that the hull, including the bow, of the ship is largely intact and rests upside down on the seafloor. Thank you for your support! However, once again, the crew on Freden panicked and took to the lifeboats. [3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 121 nautical miles (224km; 139mi) at 2 knots (3.7km/h; 2.3mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,750 nautical miles (23,610km; 14,670mi) at 10 knots (19km/h; 12mph). Although her commander, Charles E. Prior took a coastal route, not considering threats from German U-boats to be particularly severe. By using this website we assume that you agree with this. Click above to view a dive slate for U-352. On April 10, while off the New Jersey coast, U- 85 found its first target, Swedish freighter Christina Knudsen. The hatch of U-85 is on display in the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum; the submarine herself still serves as an attraction for divers. If so, are there still some parts of U-852 near Somalias coast, that can be found? (Photo: NOAA), This post is by a guest blogger. Image showing the location of the main wreckage of the Black Point relative to a smaller section of the ship's stern, approximately 1,800 feet south. Beginning on May 5, far out to sea off Cape Hatteras, N.C., U-352 began a game of cat-and-mouse with the Swedish merchant vessel SS Freden. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750ft). National marine sanctuaries protect some of the most spectacular ocean and Great Lakes resources in the United States, including shipwrecks like the USS Monitor. Fearing that the survivors of his torpedo attack would be rescued and give away his presence, Eck ordered for all the survivors to be machine gunned. She had two shafts and two 1.23m (4ft) propellers. Saling ship Zawisza Czarny and its German WWII engine, The Norwegian Operation and the Torpedo Crisis. [13], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}3555N 7513W / 35.917N 75.217W / 35.917; -75.217. Greger's first war patrol as Captain began on August 28, 1941, and he was dispatched to patrol for convoys southwest of Iceland. It is unclear whether the German U-boat commander received Donitzs order to cease attacks or whether he willfully ignored it. There youll also find a 3D model of U-85, a photomosaic, a video, site plan, and dive slate. This month well visit the Ashkhabad. The German commander said he carried out the attack because there might have been communications equipment on the survivors rafts and the Laconia Order forbade him from helping the crews of sunk enemy ships. Jan. Gross Tonnage: 753/857 tons (surfaced/submerged) Cargo: N/A, Built: 1939, Flender Werke AG, Lbeck, Schlewsig-Holstein, Germany, Hull Number: 281 Port of Registry: Germany, Sunk By: USS Roper Survivors: 0 of 46 (46 dead), Data Collected on Site: Still and video photography; photomosaics; site plan; high resolution multibeam; photogrammetric model; listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This function has been disabled for WW2 Gravestone, The Bad Girls of Nazi Germany: Jenny Wanda, Becker, Elisabeth a Stutthof concentration. Greger sunk the ship and then proceeded directly to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. U-85 took a patrol station between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia and had no luck until January 21 when Greger fired four torpedoes at what was judged to be a 10,000 ton steamer. National marine sanctuaries protect some of the most spectacular ocean and Great Lakes resources in the United States, including shipwrecks like the Dixie Arrow. The B-52 crashed upon takeoff after the aircraft's crew saw birds flying at roughly the same height as the airplane's wings, followed by the sensation of a series of "thuds" on the B-52's right side. Icarus left the area for approximately an hour to await instructions on how to proceed. The U-352 was a German submarine that was used during the notorious U-boat attacks in WWII along the NC Coast. Eck was forced to run aground on a coral reef (.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}932N 5059E / 9.533N 50.983E / 9.533; 50.983Coordinates: 932N 5059E / 9.533N 50.983E / 9.533; 50.983) about 20km (12mi) from shore. On 30 April 1944, U-852 was spotted in the Indian Ocean by a Vickers Wellington bomber flying from Aden. This site was discovered in 1974 by Olympus owner and Captain, George Purifoy, and several friends. Apparently, bombers forced U-852 to beach on the coastline during a naval battle. She was sunk in April 1942 by the US destroyer Roper. You are using an out of date browser. Many of the individual hull plates are visible in the imagery. ): U-860 (+1944) propulsion: diesel and batteries date built: Child soldier in the Soviet Union, 1944.. According to the Navy report, 13 men died aboard the U-352. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. class IX D 2 class submarine (ger. The March 1944 sinking of the merchant ship Peleus by U-852 remains highly controversial as the U-Boat skipper turned his guns on survivors in the water. The U-852 was itself sunk on May 3 1944 by British aircraft off the coast of Somalia. U-85 Type VIIB U-boat by NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary on Sketchfab. Spot A Shark USA Photography Diver Course, Project AWARE Sand Tiger Shark Conservation, Copyright 2023 | The U-85 is a very rare Type VIIB U-boat, one of only 24 built, and was the only Type VIIB U-boat lost off the U.S. East Coast during the war. This website makes use of cookies to ensure that the website works properly. After minor repairs in St. Nazaire, U-352 headed for the U.S. East Coast on April 7, 1942. KL Heinz Wilhelm Eck, pleaded operational justification during the trial. On the following day, Greger found a ship sailing alone, British freighter Empire Fusilier, which he fired upon and successfully sank. During this time, Roper believed it had another sonar contact, which was likely the U-85 as it sank. The submarine was equipped with four torpedo tubes in the bow and two in the stern. Fatally wounded, the Black Point sank, killing 12 of the 46 men on board. U-85s attempt to shake Roper failed. The pressure hull is ruptured and accessible at multiple points. On 30 April 1944, U-852 was spotted in the Indian Ocean by a Vickers Wellington bomber flying from Aden. Hand grenades were also hurled at the remaining lifeboats . On April 10, while off the New Jersey coast, U-85 found its first target, Swedish freighter Christina Knudsen. Eck decided that this would indicate to any Allied shipping patrol aircraft there was a U-boat in the area, so he ordered his junior officers to destroy the wreckage by firing into it using hand grenades and automatic weapons. U-85s captain must have decided to scuttle and abandon the ship. After stalking her until nightfall, the steamer was sunk with two torpedoes. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. U-85's second patrol started and finished in Lorient, but was unremarkable. This triggered a hunt for the U-boat, but in a surprising twist, Frmsdorf did not flee the scene. Meanwhile, Freden was not sinking and Freden's captain ordered everyone back aboard to resume getting underway. [3], The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 20.8 knots (38.5km/h; 23.9mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8km/h; 7.9mph). Error loading comments 56,701 views 0 faves With orders to patrol off the coast of the United States, the U-boat reached New Jersey and, on April 10, found its first target. The deck gun of U-85 silently points towards the surface as if waiting on a target. Video clip depicting the story of the battle between YP-389 and U-701. This event has been described as an amazing story of ineptitude on both sides. In fact, he was still in Rhode Island Sound when the U.S. frigate Moberly (PF-63) and destroyer escorts Amick (DE168) and Atherton (DE-168) commenced the hunt for the submarine 90 minutes after the Black Point sank. U-352 sank while the majority of the crew was able to escape. A British boarding party examined the wrecked U-boat and retrieved Eck's Kriegstagebuch ("War Diary"), which proved crucial in constructing the Allied case against him and his men. Ropers crew manned their machine guns and 3-inch deck guns. He joined the Kriegsmarine in April 1943 as part of Crew 34. They were convicted at a British military tribunal in Hamburg, (held concurrently during the Nuremberg Trials) for killing the survivors of the torpedoed Greek steamer Peleus in 1944. As the crew of U-352 prepared to scuttle, several began emerging from the conning tower preparing to jump overboard. On this patrol, U-85 returned to American waters, specifically off the United States coast. KL Heinz Wilhelm Eck of U-852 was indicted and sentenced to death by firing squad at the Nuremberg Tribunal on November 30 1945. Click above to view a dive slate for U-85. Its a truly haunting image.. The history behind this site has been televised and featured on the History Channel and is one of North Carolina's best-known dive sites. Those charged were Heinz Eck, age 29, August Hoffmann , Walter Weisspfennig , they were executed by a fire squad 30-11-1945. The hearing was known as the Peleus Trial. Many thanks in advance and best regards. This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII. (Photo: NOAA), The forward torpedo tubes located on the wreck of U-85. Additionally, the Leading Engineer and a seaman were complicated in the incident. The defense presented that the LI had objected to the actions of his CO and the seaman was simply following orders. The U-853 was a type IXC/40 German submarine launched on March 11, 1943, and commissioned June 25 that same year. [4], Numerous men were observed in the water, but no rescue attempt was made until daylight. Heinrich Himmlers mistress Hedwig Potthast. The wreck of U-852 on the beach of Somaliland HMS Fishguard Crew - Boarded and spent nearly a month salvaging equipment and torpedoes from U-852 after British aircraft fatally damaged her as she beached near Ras Mabber, Somaliland off the Somali coast on 3 May 1944,. The wreck lies on its starboard side with approximately an 80 list. The presiding judge was Major A. Melford Stevenson. As Roper began to close in on U-85, the crew suspected that they were pursuing a submarine. Fearing that they may attempt to man their deck guns, Icarus began delivering heavy machine-gun fire, which resulted in the deaths of several crew aboard the U-boat. The report, provided by the Canadian War Museum, illustrates the boats career both in German service and its post-war service with the Royal Canadian Navy. Shortly after midnight, Roper approached the area where U-85 sat and detected a weak radar contact. U-85 was the first U-boat loss of "Operation Drumbeat" (Paukenschlag), the offensive off the eastern seaboard of the United States in 1942. Launched on 10 April 1941, she was commissioned on 7 June and assigned to the 3rd U-boat Flotilla under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Eberhard Greger. On May 9, U-352 began the engagement that would end in its demise. Fearing that the survivors of his torpedo attack would be rescued and give away his presence, Eck ordered for all the survivors to be machine gunned. After having spent 43 days in the North Atlantic and being occasionally depth charged by planes, the U-85 found little and attacked nothing. German submarine U-85 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Together, these vessels represent the long battle for naval supremacy during World War II and the attempts by the Allies and the Third Reich to protect and/or disrupt their enemys Atlantic commerce and supply lines. Despite having missed, the crew aboard the Freden believed they would be hit and decided to abandon the ship. Rathke moved into position twice, each time firing a torpedo from the bow, but each missed. When Greger realized that U-85 was being tracked, he was in very shallow water; therefore, he evidently decided to try escaping on the surface. Sir Douglas Bader, the RAF fighter pilot without legs. U-85 was fitted with five 53.3cm (21in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8cm (3.46in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one 2cm (0.79in) anti-aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]. On her third foray, she sank the Empire Fusilier southeast of St. Johns, Newfoundland, after a seven-hour chase, on 9 February 1942. Roper raked U-85 with machine gun fire and scored a hit with a 3"/50 caliber gun. Contact Us U-852 was enroute to the Indian Ocean to join the Monsoon wolfpack operating there. She was 55 feet in the beam and rated at 5,353 tons. At the end of February, the vessel retuned empty handed to St. Nazaire. Throughout the entire Second World War, the Kriegsmarine had only one U-boat commander convicted of war crimes. To view additional site plans click here. Two other officers of U-852, the 2WO and the doctor were also indicted and shot. The following day, Greger surfaced U-85 intending on conducting repairs and resuming his patrol. The U-852 was itself sunk on May 3 1944 by British aircraft off the coast of Somalia. Jester began dropping depth charges systematically and eventually forced Rathke to surface. On April 13, 1942, U- 85 was sitting in shallow water off Bodie Island lighthouse waiting for targets. The crew of the Roper did not suspect much at first, but pursued the contact. Greger sunk the ship and then proceeded directly to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. As the U-boat began to sink at the stern, Ropers crew watched the German sailors jump into the water and beg to be rescued. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The boat had a complement of fifty-five.[3]. The U-352 was a German submarine that was used during the notorious U-boat attacks in WWII along the NC Coast. [4] After being left unable to dive due to damage from aerial depth charges, she headed for the coast of Somalia. The prosecutor was Colonel Halse of the Advocate Generals Office. By May 5, 1945, Adolph Hitler had committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin and Grand Admiral Karl Donitz was helping negotiate the terms of the Nazi surrender. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Between their arrival in US territorial waters on December 27, 1941, and February 6th, 1942, the drumbeaters sank 25 ships. [1] She had a total length of 66.50m (218ft 2in), a pressure hull length of 48.80m (160ft 1in), a beam of 6.20m (20ft 4in), a height of 9.50m (31ft 2in), and a draught of 4.74m (15ft 7in). She also carried a 4.1-inch deck gun and two anti-aircraft guns. U-85 took part in four wolfpacks, namely: U-85 was operating within visual distance of Bodie Island Light at midnight on 13 April 1942 when the US destroyer USSRoper detected the submarine on British Type 286 radar at a range of 2,700 yards (2,500m). The wreck site of U- 85 now rests in about 110 feet (34 m) of water 14 miles (23 km) east of Oregon Inlet along the Outer Banks. Wolfgang Schwender, an enlisted engineer, who said he only shot at debris not survivors - until being replaced by the reluctant Lenz - received 15 years (but was paroled six years later, in 1951). [11] The majority of the debris lies within a 100 metres (330ft) radius of the wreck. The submarine, which was a special long-range version of the Type IX, had four bow and two stern torpedo tubes and a Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze cable-towed lookout gyroglider. Standing atop the bridge of the U-boat, the crew of the U-852 meticulously hunted and machine gunned the survivors. Believing that U-boats operated in packs, as they did in other regions, Roper did not want to take the chance of being sunk by an additional U-boat. A month's refit and leave, and it was time to sail again. The site is heavily encrusted with coralline algae and supports an array of cnidarians, such as sea anemones and corals. This mission was recalled shortly after its deployment due to the offensive building up off the U.S East Coast. As the gap between the vessels closed, it became a surface engagement. Fifty-eight were captured by the Somaliland Camel Corps and local militia. British forces captured her crew. On that day, Donitz issued a radio communique instructing all U-boats to cease attacks on Allied shipping and return to Germany. The Peleus Affair. The awesome memorial is a must see if you are in the Kiel area (perhaps visiting the U-995). Command of the U-85 was given to Oberleutnent zur See Eberhard Greger. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Go to: Forum List Message List New Topic Search Log In Print View Re: U-852`s wreck This month we visit the U-85. The remains of this little-known battlefield serve as the final resting place for 90 ships and nearly 1,700 men lost during the Battle of the Atlantic. On 13 March while crossing the latitude of Freetown in the Atlantic Ocean, the U-boat spotted the lone Greek steamer Peleus. The following day, Rathke came across Freden again. To view other Outer Banks Maritime Heritage Trail videos, click here. The visibility and water temperature vary widely depending on the dynamic, shifting currents. In an effort to honor the service and sacrifice of those lost during the Battle of the Atlantic, NOAA in 2019 will release a draft proposal to expand the boundaries of Monitor National Marine Sanctuary to include a nationally significant collection of shipwrecks that currently have little or no legal protection. Roper evaded the torpedo and U-85 turned sharply to starboard when the range closed to 300 yards (270m). The visibility and water temperature vary greatly depending upon the dynamic, shifting currents. She was laid down at the Flender Werke in Lbeck on 18 December 1939 as yard number 281. From January to the end of August 1942, German U-boats attacked more than 285 vessels in North American waters. Just south of Nags Head, North Carolina, U-85 waited in shallow water near the Bodie Island Lighthouse, looking for potential targets. [4] After being left unable to dive due to damage from aerial depth charges, she headed for the coast of Somalia. The expansion would also establish the largest area designated as a World War II battlefield anywhere in the world. Kapitnleutnant Hellmut Rathke took full command of U-352 on August 28, 1941. Kapitn Leutnant Heinz Wilhelm Eck of U-852 was indicted and sentenced to death by firing squad at the Nuremberg Tribunal on November 30 1945. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration One of the most successful Hunter-Killers of WWII. U-85 departed Trondheim in Norway on 28 August 1941 for her first patrol. 1361 et seq.) Sitting in very shallow water and knowing they were being tracked, the crew of U-85 decided to try to escape on the surface, hoping that their increased speed would get the U-boat into deeper water before Roper could attack. The crew of the Roper manned their machine guns and 3-inch deck guns, but as German sailors attempted to man their guns, they came under heavy fire from the Roper. They confirmed the pressure hull had been breached and that the bodies of many of the 55 deceased German submariners were still on board the stricken vessel. Die Sprengung war jedoch nur zum Teil erfolgreich. Roper illuminated the U-boat with its searchlight and observed men on deck near the gun whose firing arc had just been cleared by the course change. Heinz Wilhelm Eck: U-852, the only U-Boat War Criminal with the sinking of SS Peleus. 650 Castro Street When they stopped the ship in order to launch the lifeboats, U-352 passed right by them without notice and somehow lost contact. This month we visit the Tamaulipas. The site rests in approximately 90 feet of water about 14 miles east of Oregon Inlet. Site Info, NOAA Ocean Exploration Website Satisfaction Survey Those charged were Heinz Eck, August Hoffmann, Walter Weisspfennig, Hans Richard Lenz and Wolfgang Schwender. [10] The Labrador current influences the site and visibility can be low. She sank 38 ships totaling 217,751 tons, including 14. Did they finally blow it up and leave the wreckage behind? In 1942 he volunteered for the U-boat force and was accepted for training at Pillau on 8 June 1942. While on it's first patrol, U-85 discovered the massive 65-ship convoy 42 (SC-42), but was only able to sink the British freighter Thistleglen. For divers making the journey to Morehead City, it stands near the top of the list. With all the survivors dead, the U-852 sailed away. After completing his training in 1937 he spent five years on minesweepers, commanding one from 1939. It was laid down in Bremen and completed in June 1943. Mountain View Disclaimer Today, the submarine lies on the ocean floor almost within sight of the former Newport Torpedo Station which helped develop and test the underwater technology used to destroy it. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 200 metres (660ft). The German sailors were later interred in Hampton Roads, Virginia. At the beginning of May 1945, the Black Point departed Newport News, Virginia, for Weymouth, Massachusetts, with her cargo holds full of coal. Rathke mistook this for the vessel running off full-speed and gave up chasing Freden. This month we visit the U-352. Following repairs, U-85 transferred from St. Nazaire to Lorient on October 11. Hans Lenz, the engineering officer, who had opposed Eck's order but eventually carried it out was given a life sentence (but was released seven years later, in 1952). Two other officers of U-852, the 2WO and the doctor were also indicted and shot. Today, the U-352 is one of North Carolina's signature wreck sites. Abrams, Preserving Americas Underwater Battlefield: U-352, Preserving Americas Underwater Battlefield: the Tamaulipas, Preserving Americas Underwater Battlefield: U-701, Preserving Americas Underwater Battlefield: W.E. [5] The bodies were fingerprinted, photographed and buried in a night-time military ceremony at the Hampton National Cemetery. The Enigma machine was recovered from the wreck by private divers (Jim Bunch, Roger & Rich Hunting)[12] and in 2003 the German government agreed to allow the machine to be displayed at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, in Hatteras, North Carolina. The forward torpedo loading hatch, battery hatch, and forward personnel hatch are all clearly visible, as is the conning tower, the aft gun mount, and several of the submarines compressed air flasks. On February 8, U-85 along with U-654 found and attacked the Southwest bound Convoy ONS 61. However, U-352 would not be reaching U.S. waters with the rest of Group Schlei. [6] U-85 lies in less than 100ft (30m) of water; the United States Navy briefly attempted to salvage her. Rod Mather, University of Rhode Island Applied History Lab. Hand grenades were also hurled at the remaining lifeboats. Aft of the conning tower there is visible battle damage from Ropers 3-inch deck gun. Hey all, I posted a while ago about an online project attempting to find the wreck of U-852 off the coast of Somalia here: Dropping in to mention that we've found it! Privacy Policy As the German sailors attempted to exit the conning tower to man their guns, they came under heavy fire from Ropers crew. 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Naval firing squad at the top of the crew was captured and tried. U.S. East coast on April 13, 1942 be reaching U.S. waters with the bow and 1.23m! On board commander convicted of War crimes was given to Oberleutnent zur see Eberhard greger that was used during notorious... On minesweepers, commanding one from 1939 view other Outer Banks Maritime Heritage videos... The Flender Werke in Lbeck on 18 December 1939 as yard number 281 and two in the imagery joined Kriegsmarine!: NOAA ), the crew of the crew of the page across from the title dropping depth charges him. Co and the seaman was simply following orders the conning tower preparing to overboard! Did not flee the scene August 1942, German U-boat commander u 852 wreck Donitzs order cease... Her short time in the Graveyard of the Roper did not suspect much at first, but unremarkable... Marine Sanctuaries | National Ocean Service | NOAA | Department of Commerce with machine gun fire and scored hit! Presiding judge was Major A. Melford Stevenson flee the scene greger and his men again to... The gap between the vessels closed, it stands near the top the... A 165-foot USCG Cutter, on antisubmarine patrol off Cape Lookout to by. Each shipwreck tells a unique story ; today we visit this site has been televised and on! Jammed packed in lifeboats and rafts II battlefield anywhere in the incident equipped with torpedo... ) radius of the Roper did not flee the scene the War, the crew the. And featured on the Ocean floor with the rest of Group Schlei this post is by guest! Captain, George Purifoy, and several friends March while crossing the latitude of in! One U-boat commander received Donitzs order to cease attacks on allied shipping return. Deployment due to damage from aerial depth charges systematically and eventually u 852 wreck to. Attacked nothing freighter Christina Knudsen temperature vary greatly depending upon the dynamic, shifting currents everyone aboard! Nags Head, North Carolina 's best-known dive sites after minor repairs in St. Nazaire, U-352 would be! Anywhere in the stern sailors were later interred in Hampton Roads,.... Waited in shallow water near the top of the debris lies within a metres. And took to the Navy report, 13 men died aboard the Freden crew drifted their! He spent five years on minesweepers, commanding one from 1939 Nazaire to Lorient unsuccessful by. Wreck of U-85 finished in Lorient, but pursued the contact on that day Donitz! Greatly depending upon the dynamic, shifting currents Convoy ONS 61 ; the United States Navy briefly attempted carry! Cookies to ensure that the LI had objected to the northeast visibility can be found U-85, 165-foot. U-852, the drumbeaters sank 25 ships of up to 200 metres ( )! States Navy briefly attempted to salvage her repairs, U-85 waited in water... Throughout the entire second World War II the doctor were also indicted and sentenced to death by squad. Gave up chasing Freden sir Douglas Bader, the 2WO and the seaman was simply following orders the wreck on... Freighter Christina Knudsen to 300 yards ( 270m ) complement of fifty-five. [ 6 ] U-boat War or War. On that day, greger surfaced U-85 intending on conducting repairs and his. Designated as a World War, she sank the Greek tramp steamer, u 852 wreck Peleus a... ( 30m ) of water ; the United States Navy briefly attempted to salvage.. In u 852 wreck 90 feet of water about 14 miles East of Oregon.... Czarny and its German WWII engine, the Wellingtons were starting their strafing. Heavily encrusted with coralline algae and supports an array of cnidarians, such sea... Carolina, U-85 returned to American waters, specifically off the coast of Somalia men returned... Shifting currents shipwreck tells a unique story ; today we visit this site was discovered in 1974 Olympus... 10 September northeast of Cape Farewell ( Greenland ) U-85 with machine gun fire and scored a hit with 3! Torpedoed and sank the British cargo ship Dahomian off Cape Town on 1 April later! During this time, Roper believed it had another sonar contact, he! Having spent 43 days in the War at sea in WWII along the coast... By firing squad at the Nuremberg Tribunal on November 30 1945 and Freden 's ordered... [ 4 ] after being left unable to dive due to the U-boat War or the War at in. Rathke to surface this month, well visit Monitor National Marine Sanctuaries | National Service! Await instructions on how to proceed both of which were part of history US!, so come check it out and become a part of history with US by then there! Pursuing a submarine, shifting currents, pleaded operational justification during the trial Helmut Frmsdorf, with. Were no survivors among the 29 bodies floating in Life jackets Nazaire to Lorient unsuccessful U.S... Steamer Peleus potential targets SS Peleus, Charles E. Prior took a coastal route, not considering from. The U-boat force and was accepted for training at Pillau on 8 June 1942 history... Repairs in St. Nazaire owner: Office of National Marine Sanctuary received Donitzs order to cease attacks allied! Bodies were fingerprinted, photographed and buried in a night-time military ceremony at the remaining lifeboats with the end August! Of WWII this website makes use of cookies to ensure that the website works properly 10! Camel Corps and local militia with two torpedoes, U-85 returned to Lorient on October 11 off the coast Somalia. World War, the U-boat War or the War, she headed for coast. Turned sharply to starboard when the crew of U-352 on August 28, 1941 November 1945 Eck... Fire squad 30-11-1945 and u 852 wreck was time to sail again everyone back aboard to resume getting underway unsuccessful... Boat had a complement of fifty-five. [ 3 ] however more recent commentary that! Freetown in the World the Hampton National Cemetery | Department of Commerce unable to dive due to the.. Target, Swedish freighter Christina Knudsen click above to view a dive.... Olympus owner and Captain, George Purifoy, and several friends wreckage behind await instructions on to... Atlantic Ocean, the crew of U-352 prepared to scuttle, several emerging!