Loanda and UB109

[keith_henson]

Evening all - Returned from a cider fair at a local farm, may not be such a good post but il try my best


Yesterday, 7am loaded my car up in Cranfield - in between milton keynes and bedford - 7.30am on my way to dover after getting the all clear from paul for diving. Arrive at dover at 9:45 (how i do not knoe as i normally drive like a blue rinse granny). Find the marina but yet it dont twig about the taurus boat with dive tanks on it (spechial mode). Pay my ticket and end up in the wrong car park (dover virgin)

Finally meet debs, paul et al and get my kit to the rib. Its been 18 months since i was last on a rib when i was teaching power boating on the Isle of Wight, something i have missed rather alot. I get buddied up with tom, rather a nice chap who pronounces his path as "parth", just like me

Arrive at Loanda, not knowing how the shotting or things happen. SMB arrives at surface and then we are off Loanda here we come. Carl decided to drive the rib in shorts, t-shrirt and fleece, but decided it was a bad choice after getting soaked and his clathes never dried out! Vis was not bad *cough*, but phytoplankton are rife at this time of year. Found me a pipe within a few mins of being on the bottom and the biggest lobby i have ever seen (father in law is a lobby/salmon/mussel fishermen in north wales) and it was still bigger than anything i have seen from there. Alas i left it in its hole ready for me another day (or maybe not). Got a bit cold after 40 mins - i think my underlayer i wear has finally given up on me.

Arrive back on shore after another member was feeding the fish off the front of the boat (useless with names).

3 hours on shore, a trip to KFC, a brew and a quick kip and ready for the second dive. This time in my 400g thinsulate. Glad i had my gimp suit zipped up as the surf was rather nice coming over the top of the rip on the way to UB109 (got it right this time). Never dived a U-boat before, was well excited (not just the 37% mix i had on the first dive). Bouncy bouncy to the wreck site (like being on a snowboard), shot line get fixed and over we go. First thing i see, other than the top deck of the UB was the gun. How cool is that, thought about riding it cowboy stylee but i would have no photographic evidence of it. Worked our way to the bow. As the bet cutter had been sheared off, the tubes seemed a good idea to look into near the bed.

Times a running out, so have a quick gander at the conning tower, the torpedo loading holes, see me some nice pollack and cod (only a few), want more but buddy is ready to ascend. 6 mins later we are on the surface. Picked up and the biggest smile on my face i can remember.

Get home at 11:35pm after listening to live8 on the way home. Couldnt sleep a bloody wink



A bloody good day. Cheers guys


Keith

[Paul Oliver]

Hi Keith

Glad you enjoyed it. We did the UB55 today, another WW1 German Sub upright with a sight list to Port in 34m. No gun on her and the stern has been blown off, but very good dive. Viz was a couple of m better than yesterday and the sea a lot flatter.

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

Viz was a couple of m better than yesterday and the sea a lot flatter.

You and ya bloody BIG mouth..........

Viz was the normal 25 CENTIMETERS, ROUGH like the South Atlantic, and colder than the North Pole.........


VISITING DIVER , Please stay away. You upset Port control a few times today, and BOY whoever shot in the western entrance under the path of a Seacat,,,,,,,,,, You need stringing up and shafting with a red hot poker.... Go else where and get divers a bad name ,,, but not here.

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by keith_henson

A bloody good day. Cheers guys


Keith

Thats what we like to hear Kieth, glad it was worth the drive down.

Next time come with me and NOT the weather monkey .... sea is always flatter

[keith_henson]

[Michael Lowrey]

Keith,

Two types of guns were commonly fitted on WWI U-boats: A 105mm/45 caliber gun and/or a 88mm/30 caliber gun. UB 109, as I recall, was fitted with the 105mmm.

Best wishes,
Michael

[keith_henson]

aint really fussed at the size of the gun on the boat - was a nice experience to see one in the flesh so to speak.

Going to have a hell of a headache in the morning. Damn home grown cider