UB109 - Sunk by remote control.

Imported post

Guys

This weekend we dived the UB109 a unique sub which was sunk by remote control in 1918. This sub was detected using underwater sensors and then the operator detonated the nearest mine blowing off her stern.

Quite a lot of the crew including the captain free assended the 22m ish to the surface and about 8 survived. One of our guys dived in my pool shortie and had a good 35min in the water down to 27m with no major problems, in our near Mediteranian water temps down here.

The following is a dive report from one of our DL's, not quite DIR but what the hell, enjoy:-

On a beautiful sunny afternoon Carl, Paul O, Simon, Ali (on his first channel wreck dive), and a guest diver from Italy called Matteo turned up at the slip and wondered why there were no other dive boats around.  What did everyone else know that we didn't?  These thoughts were soon forgotten when the club's resident comedy incident on legs (Carl) anounced that he had forgotten to bring his suit - but that it didn't matter because he would dive in his swimming trunks and a T-shirt.  The suggestion was made that he should at least try and borrow a shortie from Paul O.  Reluctantly he agreed and proceeded to put Paul's shortie on - back to front!  After cementing his place as the firm favourite for this year's Chris McCracken Weightbelt Award he joined the rest of us on the boat.

We left the slip in good time - anticipating an early slack and not being able to find the wreck (you know, the usual kind of stuff).  Imagine our surprise when we hit the wreck in good time and immediately found the pea buoy we had left on the UB109 two weeks earlier.

Paul and Ali were first in - and they tried hard to ignore Carl in his ill-fitting shortie who was tagging along with them.  Despite a few understandable buoyancy problems Ali thoroughly enjoyed his first wreck dive - in conditions which were far removed from the pea-souper we had dived the same wreck in two weeks earlier.  Carl had great fun unwinding the shot line which had spent the last fortnight wrapping itself around the conning tower and periscope with every changing tide.  After completing their planned dive they emerged to reports of 3-4 metres of vis and slack water.

Simon and Matteo went in second wave - with Simon suddenly realising the importance of a thorough dive briefing as he watched in horror as his new Italian friend disappeared down into the dark water oblivious to the Channel wrecker's tradition of actually holding onto the shotline.  Matteo is actually a very capable and experienced Mediterranean diver - but they obviously don't have the kind of tidal currents that can wrench your arms out of their sockets while you hang onto the line for grim death and watch your deco time ticking slowly down.

The sub lies in about 26 metres and is very intact from just aft of the conning tower to the bow.  The true horror of submarine escapes from a cold and dark metal coffin is evidenced by the open hatches which offer glimpses down into the dark interior.  The glass is still intact in the conning tower, and the prism at the top of the periscope is also still there.  The wreck provides a home for a large variety of Wrasse and crabs, and is encrusted with life of all kinds.  Heavily silted in places it is still unmistakably 'sub-shaped' and still has the surprisingly large bore deck cannon pointing menacingly off the starboard bow.  Even the points where the flag on the bow are anchored still remain intact on this war grave.  The only word of warning is that the wreck is smothered in rope, fishing line, and net.  Some of this tends to float around and can easily wrap itself around you.

A thoroughly enjoyable dive was had by all - and the 109 remains a fascinating shallow wreck dive just a short distance from the shore.