Heinz Eck had survivors and wreckage from the Greek steamer Peleus machine-gunned with the intention of erasing all traces of the sinking. However, before reaching land the U-boat came under attack from six RAF bombers from 621 Squadron. She was sunk in April 1942 by the US destroyer Roper. To view additional dive slates click here. The wreck is home to a variety of marine life, including invasive lionfish. [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). The U-852 was itself sunk on May 3 1944 by British aircraft off the coast of Somalia. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 200 metres (660ft). An investigation into a Swedish-Estonian ferry that sank into the Baltic Sea 27 years ago turned up no new evidence that would contradict the official investigation report, the Associated Press. Privacy Policy The story of the incident really began on a summer day of March 13, 1944. Heinrich Himmlers mistress Hedwig Potthast. KL Heinz Wilhelm Eck of U-852 was indicted and sentenced to death by firing squad at the Nuremberg Tribunal on November 30 1945. This month we visit the Tamaulipas. During this time, Roper believed it had another sonar contact and not wanting to take any chances of another possible U-boat, Roper rode right through the mass of sailors in the water and dropped an additional 11 depth charges. 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). Download image (jpg, 9.0 MB). His commander-in-training patrol was aboard the famous U-124, commanded by his classmate Johann Mohr, from 28 October 1942 to 21 February 1943. Throughout the entire Second World War, the Kriegsmarine had only one U-boat commander convicted of war crimes. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. Eck was to be the only U-boat commander found guilty of war crimes and executed after he ordered the machine gunning of survivors from the . They dived the wreck to a depth of approximately 12,500 feet (3,800 m) in the MIR submersible from the Russian research ship Akademik Mstislav Keldysh. U-852 had a displacement of 1,610 tonnes (1,580 long tons) when at the surface and 1,799 tonnes (1,771 long tons) while submerged. The site is heavily encrusted with coralline algae and supports an array of cnidarians, such as sea anemones and corals. The hearing was known as the Peleus Trial. There were only three survivors from the 35-man Peleus. 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. 59 Besatzungsmitglieder, darunter der Kommandant, konnten sich an den Strand retten. [4] More recent investigation by sport divers has raised questions about Navy reports on the wreck.[7]. JavaScript is disabled. 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! From January to the end of August 1942, German U-boats attacked more than 285 vessels in North American waters. For divers making the journey to Morehead City, it stands near the top of the list. One survivor managed to escape and was eventually rescued by allied ships. However, to do this successfully the submarine would have to maintain a high-level of secrecy throughout her journey from Europe. The gap between the two vessels closed, and a surface engagement ensued. (Photo: NOAA), This post is by a guest blogger. To learn more about the proposal, click here. May 2 1944, U-852 beached on Cape Gardefui after attack by RAF aircraft. This month well visit the E. M. Clark. 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. The German sailors were later interred in Hampton Roads, Virginia. According to the Navy report, 13 men died aboard the U-352. However, U-352 would not be reaching U.S. waters with the rest of Group Schlei. Amid the sinking wreckage were the survivors jammed packed in lifeboats and rafts. On that day, Donitz issued a radio communique instructing all U-boats to cease attacks on Allied shipping and return to Germany. U-852 was proceeding to the Indian Ocean to join the Monsun wolfpack when its commander committed an act that made it infamous. Two other officers of U-852, the 2WO and the doctor were also indicted and shot. Over the course of the battle, eight Allied convoy vessels, 78 merchant freighters and tankers and four German U-boats sank off North Carolinas coast. She had two shafts and two 1.85m (6ft) propellers. Although her commander, Charles E. Prior took a coastal route, not considering threats from German U-boats to be particularly severe. Aft of the conning tower there is visible battle damage from Roper's 3-inch deck gun. The survivors were taken to Charleston, South Carolina, as prisoners of war. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. During the journey, Eck torpedoed and sank the Greek tramp steamer, SS Peleus . Rouse, Parke, Jr., "Under the Cloak of Night", U.S. National Register of Historic Places, "2008 Battle of the Atlantic Survey Methodology", "Home Found for "Enigmatic" WW II U-boat Relic", U-85 Memorial Page with Crew members' birth dates and places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_submarine_U-85_(1941)&oldid=1119483562, World War II Shipwrecks along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico MPS, 2,8003,200PS (2,1002,400kW; 2,8003,200bhp) (diesels), 90nmi (170km; 100mi) at 4 knots (7.4km/h; 4.6mph) submerged, Schlagetot (20 October 1 November 1941), This page was last edited on 1 November 2022, at 20:56. The crew of the U-85 claimed to have scored at least one hit, but the vessel evidently did not sink and there were no confirming allied records of the incident. Unlike U-85 and U-701, U-352 rests south of Cape Hatteras, off Cape Lookout in more stable conditions and more inviting Gulf Stream water for the average diver. Die Sprengung war jedoch nur zum Teil erfolgreich. U-852 Update. 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. Seven crewmen were lost in the engagement; the remainder fled ashore. Another man, the sub's machinist mate, had his leg severed and died later that night aboard Icarus. He was keeping with the common practice of navigating in a zig-zag pattern at the time of the submarine attack. 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. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Spot A Shark USA Photography Diver Course, Project AWARE Sand Tiger Shark Conservation, Copyright 2023 | Setting sail from St. Nazaire, France, on March 21, 1942, U-85 was making its third and final journey. 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. The U-352 was a German submarine that was used during the notorious U-boat attacks in WWII along the NC Coast. Error loading comments 56,701 views 0 faves 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. Throughout the entire Second World War, the Kriegsmarine had only one U-boat commander convicted of war crimes. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The Peleus Affair. With all the survivors dead, the U-852 sailed away. Posted by: dozmataz_buckshank Date: October 14, 2016 05:31PM. As the German sailors attempted to exit the conning tower to man their guns, they came under heavy fire from Ropers crew. 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. In protest, his Leading Engineer questioned his commanders order but could do little to change the fate of the survivors. For their actions in sinking U-85, Destroyer Division 54 commander, Commander Stanley C. Norton and the Roper's captain, Lieutenant commander Hamilton W. Howe, were each awarded the Navy Cross.[8][9]. The boat attempted to run south on the surface and fired its stern torpedo at Roper when the range closed to 700 yards (640 m). Did they finally blow it up and leave the wreckage behind? A mysterious lost WWII submarine, German U-boat U-455 is discovered off the coast of Italy at 120 meters deep. However, once again, the crew on Freden panicked and took to the lifeboats. [4] After being left unable to dive due to damage from aerial depth charges, she headed for the coast of Somalia. Mountain View [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). The crew was interned and sent to POW camps, after which they were charged when the war ended. This was the birth of the U-boat as an offensive weapon. Eck was to be the only U-boat commander found guilty of war crimes and executed after he ordered the machine gunning of survivors from the Greek ship Peleus. Lieutenant Commander Maurice Jester aboard Icarus reacted appropriately. This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. U-85 was the third Type VII-B built at Flender Werke in Lbeck and was attached to the Third Flotilla from June 1941 until the time of loss on April 14, 1942. direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical . 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. This month we visit the U-352. The visibility and water temperature vary widely depending on the dynamic, shifting currents. Diving U-85is the closest that many of us will come to experiencing what it was like during a World War II naval battle, says NOAA archaeologist Tane Casserley. 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 information listed on this site is to be used as a reference and is only our opinion/suggestion. 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. Learn more about U-85 and other World War II shipwrecks off the North Carolina coast here. This month well visit the Ashkhabad. At the bow, the outer-hull is gone, exposing the pressure hull and the four forward torpedo tubes. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines plus two MWM RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of 9,000 metric horsepower (6,620kW; 8,880shp) for use while surfaced, and two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010PS; 750kW) for use while submerged. [5] The bodies were fingerprinted, photographed and buried in a night-time military ceremony at the Hampton National Cemetery. Her new owners renamed the ship the Black Point. KL Heinz Wilhelm Eck, pleaded operational justification during the trial. Known as Operation Paukenschlag (Drumbeat), the attacking force was comprised of five IX class, long-range U-boats. This year, Scuba Diver Life is partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to bring you images and stories from each of the United States 11 dive-able marine sanctuaries. The wreck lies on its starboard side with approximately an approximately 80-degree list. 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 U-352 was a German submarine that was used during the notorious U-boat attacks in WWII along the NC Coast. Saling ship Zawisza Czarny and its German WWII engine, The Norwegian Operation and the Torpedo Crisis. Eck and his officers were the only Kriegsmarine submariners to be tried for war crimes at the end of World War II in Europe. 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. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. In 1942 he volunteered for the U-boat force and was accepted for training at Pillau on 8 June 1942. On May 9, 1942 it was sunk by the Coast Guard Cutter Icarus. One of the most controversial incidents of the war, she was also the first ship to be sunk in the war. She measured 251 feet, 10 inches in length; 22 feet, 6 inches in the beam; and drew 15 feet, 4 inches. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. You can clearly see the shell damage behind the conning tower caused by USSRopers 3-inch gun. One of the most successful Hunter-Killers of WWII. Also, on the site, the density of red barbier baitfish and amberjack is such that it often hinders photographic documentation. Roper returned after daylight and recovered the bodies of 29 sailors. The expansion would also establish the largest area designated as a World War II battlefield anywhere in the world. On June 15 Eck took command of the new Type IXD-852 and put the boat through months of training before leaving from Kiel for the Indian Ocean. Just off coastal North Carolina, the remnants of many of these ships are scattered on the ocean floor. The Allies came into possession of an Fa 330 in May 1944 when they captured the U-852 intact. Nine crew members were lost. The crew was interned and sent to POW camps, after which they were charged when the war ended. The crew was interned and sent to POW camps, after which they were charged when the war ended. Despite having missed, the crew aboard the Freden believed they would be hit and decided to abandon the ship. On 13 March while crossing the latitude of Freetown in the Atlantic Ocean, the U-boat spotted the lone Greek steamer Peleus. U-85 left for its fourth and final patrol on March 21, 1942. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The Black Point was the last American merchant ship sunk by a German U-boat. U-852. Evidently during the process of launching boats, Freden turned the stern towards U-352 so as to present a smaller target. The U-853 was a type IXC/40 German submarine launched on March 11, 1943, and commissioned June 25 that same year. The defense presented that the LI had objected to the actions of his CO and the seaman was simply following orders. This very interesting page explains the controversial order of 1 May, 1943 to stay up and fight the aircraft attacking the U-boats. Rathke attempted to carry out at least one attack, but depth charges kept him from being successful. Greger and his men again returned to Lorient unsuccessful. U-85 departed Trondheim in Norway on 28 August 1941 for her first patrol. [3] The U-boat had a total length of 87.58m (287ft 4in), a pressure hull length of 68.50m (224ft 9in), a beam of 7.50m (24ft 7in), a height of 10.20m (33ft 6in), and a draught of 5.35m (17ft 7in). The U-853 was one of the last German U-boats sunk in the Battle of the Atlantic and the last to be destroyed on the East Coast of the United States. Roper then dropped a pattern of 11 depth charges where U-85 had disappeared beneath the surface. The first divers to visit the wreck were deployed from the USS Penguin (ASR-12) in the hours immediately after the submarine sank. The most evil women in history, Ilse Koch. Joined later by the destroyer Ericsson (DD440), the American task force detected, attacked, and destroyed the U-853. Group Schlei was to return to France and begin preparing for deployment to U.S. waters. For Lorenzo del Veneziano, an underwater marine archaeologist, it's an amazing. U-852 (+1944) Details general nationality: german purpose: war type: submarine subtype/class: IX D 2 class submarine (ger.) It was either the last or second-to-last (probably the latter) German submarine sunk by U.S. forces in World War II, one day before Germany's official surrender in Europe. As it turned out, not all the survivors were killed. 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. U-85's second patrol started and finished in Lorient, but was unremarkable. Their suspicions were confirmed when the crew witnessed the track of a torpedo narrowly missing them. The U-852 was itself sunk on May 3 1944 by British aircraft off the coast of Somalia. 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. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Despite frequent disturbance as a popular dive site, the wreck retains archaeological integrity and to this day remains an important and poignant war grave. If so, are there still some parts of U-852 near Somalias coast, that can be found? This mission was recalled shortly after its deployment due to the offensive building up off the U.S East Coast. Sie wurden am nchsten Tag von den Briten aufgenommen. On May 9, 1942 it was sunk by the Coast Guard Cutter Icarus. Each shipwreck tells a unique story; today we visit the U-85. On her third foray, she sank the Empire Fusilier southeast of St. Johns, Newfoundland, after a seven-hour chase, on 9 February 1942. She docked at St. Nazaire on the French Atlantic coast on 18 September. As the gap between the vessels closed, it became a surface engagement. 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. Two other officers of U-852, the 2WO and the doctor were also indicted and shot. At some point, Greger must have made the decision to scuttle and abandon the U-85. [1], The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.9 knots (33.2km/h; 20.6mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8 knots (15km/h; 9.2mph). This month well visit the Caribsea. 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. To view additional site plans click here. Ropers crew manned their machine guns and 3-inch deck guns. German submarine U-40 was a Type IXA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II.. U-40 was built in Bremen by DeSchiMAG AG Weser as yard number 945. (Photo: Joe Hoyt, NOAA), Today, U-85 offers habitat to an abundance of marine life, including these oceanic triggerfish. Additionally, the Leading Engineer and a seaman were complicated in the incident. On 30 November 1945, Eck, Hoffmann and Weisspfennig were executed by naval firing squad.[6]. Rathke fired at Icarus, but the torpedo either malfunctioned or hit the sea bottom. On May 5 (or possibly the early morning of May 6), all 55 submariners aboard U-853 were entombed in their . However, the Roper was closing in on U-85, and the crew now suspected that they were pursuing a submarine. U-352 sank while the majority of the crew was able to escape. 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. We visit this site on average 2-3 times per week, so come check it out and become a part of history with us! The boat attempted to run south on the surface and fired its stern torpedo at Roper when the range closed to 700 yards (640m). This was part of a NOVA/National Geographic documentary . [3] However more recent commentary surmised that Gustafson had not hit her, and her loss is currently unexplained. Command of the U-85 was given to Oberleutnent zur See Eberhard Greger. U-85 conducted four war patrols with the flotilla, and sank three ships, totalling 15,060gross register tons(GRT). 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. This month we visit the W.E. At the end of February, the vessel retuned empty handed to St. Nazaire. Meanwhile, Freden was not sinking and Freden's captain ordered everyone back aboard to resume getting underway. The wreck lies on its starboard side with approximately an 80 list. The visibility and water temperature vary widely depending on the dynamic, shifting currents. Bigbird; Jun 7, 2008; 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. 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. Amid the sinking wreckage were the survivors jammed packed in lifeboats and rafts. To view other Outer Banks Maritime Heritage Trail videos, click here. The much smaller stern section lies approximately 1,800 feet further south. [11] The wreck site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. This commission helps us to maintain and improve the forum for the benefit of our users. Of the U-boats off North Carolina's coast, U-352 had the least eventful operational career. Two other officers of U-852, the 2WO and the doctor were also indicted and shot. National marine sanctuaries protect some of the most spectacular ocean and Great Lakes resources in the United States, including shipwrecks like the Dixie Arrow. Rod Mather, University of Rhode Island Applied History Lab. This year, Scuba Diver Life and NOAA are partnering to profile 12 different ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration It was laid down in Bremen and completed in June 1943. [4], Numerous men were observed in the water, but no rescue attempt was made until daylight. He sent out five depth charges from the Y-gun, which damaged U-352 so badly they decided to play dead and lay still on the bottom, hoping to go unnoticed. One survivor managed to escape and was eventually rescued by allied ships. Roper then quickly left for fear of another boat in the area, but returned after daylight and recovered the bodies of 29 sailors. However, the wreck site is likely the U-boat most frequently dived by recreational divers. The outer hull is gone at the bow, exposing the pressure hull and the four forward torpedo tubes. 1361 et seq.) At first, Ropers crew didnt suspect much, but they dutifully pursued the contact. Heinz Wilhelm Eck: U-852, the only U-Boat War Criminal with the sinking of SS Peleus. As a result, rather than rescuing the crew of the U-85, Roper rode right through the mass of sailors in the water and dropped an additional 11 depth charges to ensure that it was sunk. There youll also find a 3D model of U-85, a photomosaic, a video, site plan, and dive slate. U-852 was fitted with six 53.3cm (21in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 torpedoes, one 10.5cm (4.13in) SK C/32 naval gun, 150 rounds, and a 3.7cm (1.5in) SK C/30 with 2575 rounds as well as two 2cm (0.79in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. She measured 251 feet, 10 inches in length; 22 feet, 6 inches in the beam; and drew 15 feet, 4 inches. A well-aimed 3-inch shell breached the pressure hull just aft of U-85s conning tower. Greger sunk the ship and then proceeded directly to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. 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. Today, visitors to the cemetery can see the graves and read the names of the sailors that were recovered. She was commanded by Kapitnleutnant Heinz-Wilhelm Eck, who led her through her sea trials and onto her first war patrol on 18January 1944. 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