SCUBAHUB
Stern deck gun of the U-95
Inscription on scrubbed propeller
PHOTO : RICK AYRTON
PHOTO : RICK AYRTON
U-boat identified by BSAC team
A TEAM OF BSAC DIVERS HAS HELPED IDENTIFY A U-BOAT off The Lizard in Cornwall , after years of uncertainty over its identity . Working with US-based U-boat historian Michael Lowrey , the team has now conclusively identified the wreck as U-95 , following a series of dives on the site back in June .
There had been much debate about the identity of the U93-U98 class submarine since it was rammed and sunk by merchant ship SS Braeneil on 7 January 1918 . The Royal Navy ’ s official attribution was that it was U-93 , but this was subsequently questioned as the U-93 had been assigned to operate off Brittany . Then in 2004 , another U-boat of the same type was discovered off Hardelot , France , casting further doubt on the U-93 identification .
Starboard propeller and shaft
Fran Hockley inspects the conning tower
PHOTO : RICK AYRTON
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PHOTO : RICK AYRTON
By 2006 , the wreck site off The Lizard was considered as ‘ probably ’ the U-95 . But it has taken until 2021 for a definitive answer to be confirmed .
Steve Mortimer , who led the team on the 70m dive to the wreck site , said he was thrilled they could solve the submarine ’ s puzzle .
“ By conclusively identifying U-95 , it meant that the wreck of the other submarine is also confirmed as U-93 . The final resting place of the crews of two boats is now known . We think that ’ s really important , and we were all very pleased to play a part .”
Diving from Atlantic Scuba ’ s dive boat Moonshadow , the team scrubbed one of the propellers and found an inscription of the U-boat series and an attachment date . Comparing the dates on the two submarines ’ propellers indicated that they were fitted after launching – a new development . All other U-boats from the U93-U98 type were either surrendered at the end of the First World War , or their location is known .
“ From this , it was clear that the Lizard wreck is U-95 and the Hardelot one U-93 ,” Steve said .
The team , which also included Rick Ayrton , Fran Hockley , Craig Holdstock , Jacob Mackenzie , Barbara Mortimer , Dom Robinson , and Tim Wallis , had previously worked with Lowrey on his project to identify the wreck of the first modern submarine , HMS D1 .
They are now preparing for another exploratory dive for the historian , focusing on another U-boat site , later this year .
■ SCUBA will publish a background feature on this expedition in the September issue .