[Michael Lowrey]

Imported post

Paul,

Great to hear that you guys enjoy diving the UB 109 and that she's still in good shape and respected as a war grave.

A flag pole at the bow? I've never seen that in a pictures of boats of this class. Sure it wasn't the attachment points for the net cutter?

That big bore gun would be a 105mm/45 caliber weapon. These were standard issue on UBIII class boats from about the middle of 1918 on (some boats had them earlier). Early production UBIIIs were fitted with 88mm/30 cal guns and later ungunned. And yes, the type of gun fitted is a way to very roughly date wrecks of this class.

Best wishes,

Michael

 

[Michael Lowrey]

Imported post

Paul,

Thanks for the description. You are correct about the forward torpedo hatch. In Oblt.z.S. Ramien's own words: "I was astounded to find five other men on the surface. The torpedomen had opened the hatch immediately following the explosion and these five men were by chance blown throw the hatch. Included in those five men was a machinist who had been carried through all the compartments on the crest of the rising water and shoved out the forward hatch."

Aside from Ramien and the navigator, the helmsman and radio operator escaped through the conning tower hatch.

Eight of the nine men were rescued.

Another thing that attaches forward are the two jumper cables. The net cutter would have five attachment points.

Best wishes,

Michael