German submarine u869 was a type ixc40 uboat of nazi germanys kriegsmarine during world war ii, whose wreck was discovered off the coast of new jersey in 1991. After commissioning, the boat and crew underwent nearly a year of training at various bases in the baltic in order to become battle ready. The u boat was reported to have been sunk off casablanca by depth charges from the destroyer uss fowlerde222 and the french submarine chaser lindiscretat 34. Nazi uboat photographed off north carolina coast 72 years. By this time the war was in full swing, and military cargoes left new york on a regular basis. The boat is u 869, a submarine previously thought lost off the coast of morocco. While there are concise records of all german uboats sunk during wwii, the team cannot find records of this particular submarine, which of course presents an unprecedented opportunity to not only. The book was awarded the american booksellers associations 2005 book of.
Uboat discovered off new jersey 0 point pleasant, n. There was no way i was ever going to read a book about scuba divers discovering a uboat under 230 foot of water off the new jersey coast without serious prodding. An unidentified german submarine was discovered on september 2, 1991 by john chatterton in 230 feet of water 65 miles east of point pleasant, new jersey. In fact, historical records are shown to be replete with errors and mistaken identities. In this animated feature, lead yourself on a selfguided tour of u 869, a type ixc40 u boat that sank for reasons. Shadow divers published in 2004 is a nonfictional book by robert kurson recounting of the discovery of a world war ii german uboat 60 miles 97 km off the coast of new jersey, united states in 1991. Shipwreck found dating back to wwii off jersey coast whyy. A nazi submarine which sank off the coast of north carolina 72 years ago has been pictured for the first time, showing how the vessel has remained as a. U boat discovered off new jersey 0 point pleasant, n. The wreck of a world war one german uboat has been found off the coast of norfolk. Oct 18, 2012 smit tak another angle on the story of raising german u boat u534 duration.
Coast guard searching for missing boat 40 miles off barnegat the fishing boat queen annes revenge sent out a distress call at 1. Nagle discovered the resting place of a world war ii german u boat, a wartime loss with the 56 man crew still aboard. On 31 august, 1997 these same divers reported evidence that the boat they found is u869 knife inscribed with a u869 crew members name, uzo torpedo aiming device, machinerynumbers from the engine room. Shadow diver on the u869 narrated by john chatterton youtube. Dec 16, 2015 when a crew began to dig up pieces of wood underneath a jetty along the new jersey coast, they quickly learned that this wasnt debris. From then until early august, german uboats dominated the waters off the east coast, sinking fuel tankers and cargo ships with impunity and often within sight of shore. In this case the materiel bound for alexandria, egypt, via capetown, africa was comprised of such dilectables as 2,000 cases of evaporated milk, 7,000 cases of.
There were rumors in the diving community in new jersey that there possibly was a submarine off the new jersey shore. On the sandy bottom between new jerseys cape may and block. Coast guard searching for missing boat 40 miles off. A personal account of the german uboat battles of w. Its the only book on the history of pound fishing in new jersey that hes aware of. Two days after their arrival in new york, u l230, still lingering about the coast, sank the 5,458ton canadian freighter cornwallis, which was carrying sugar and molasses from barbados to st. Scans by windfarm developers showed the submarine lying about 55. Alarmed by the possibility that this uboat could have dropped off enemy agents, the boston fbi office sent men north to maine. Nagle discovered the resting place of a world war ii german uboat, a wartime. Merchant ship sunk by nazi uboat off cape may reveals secret that is changing an episode in wwii history books by tommy rowan, updated. In addition to being compellingly readable on every page, the book offers a unique. In 1991, a group of divers set out to explore an unknown object lying 230 feet 70. Rustin cassway says he was diving with partner brian sullivan about 70 miles off the coast of cape may on july 4th when they found a steamship sunk by a german uboat submarine during world war ii.
Rustin cassway says he was diving with partner brian sullivan about 70 miles off the coast of cape may on july 4th when they found a steamship sunk by a german u boat submarine during world war ii. May 15, 2014 its the only book on the history of pound fishing in new jersey that hes aware of. In addition to being compellingly readable on every page, the book offers a. Wreckage of a nazi uboat was found off the coast of north. Merchant ship sunk by nazi uboat off cape may reveals. But in 1991, not even these bold divers were prepared for what they found 230 feet. Divers who visited a wreck site 230 feet under the atlantic expected to find only a sunken barge or a pile of construction debris. On december 29, 1944 uboat command radioed the submarine to patrol an area off the new jersey coast.
An engrossing saga of the suspenseful, intriguing, and dangerous underwater investigation of a mystery uboat. The u869 log book entries for this time period can be seen here. It was a shipwreck that dated back nearly 100 years. Sep 06, 2016 a nazi submarine which sank off the coast of north carolina 72 years ago has been pictured for the first time, showing how the vessel has remained as a remarkably intact tomb for the 45 sailors. An unidentified german submarine was discovered on september 2, 1991 by john chattertonin 230 feet of water 65 miles east of point pleasant, new jersey. Sunken nazi submarine found just off the coast of nantucket. The german sub, the u576, was found at the bottom of the atlantic 30 miles off cape hatteras and just 240 yards from an american merchant. July 16, 2018 the octavian was a norwegian freighter tasked with transporting sulfur and wood resin to its destination at saint john in new brunswick, canada. Jan 18, 2017 this book focuses on the somewhat serendipitous discovery of an heretofore unknown german uboat about 60 miles off the northern new jersey shore. In 1991, john chatterton and richie kohler, two divers from new jersey, discovered a shipwrecked world war ii german u boat 60 miles off the coast of new jersey. Scans by windfarm developers showed the submarine lying about 55 miles 90km east of caisteronsea.
Jul 27, 2012 the u 550 was found monday by a privately funded group organized by new jersey lawyer joe mazraani. Centuryold shipwreck found off new jersey coast during. Posted apr 06, 2016 by brian amaral nj advance media for nj. The history of submarine warfare off the jersey coast whyy. The boat is u869, a submarine previously thought lost off the coast of morocco. New jersey, discovered a shipwrecked world war ii german uboat 60 miles. The last crossing of the lusitania by erik larson, iron coffins. The film follows a sixyear odyssey by a group of divers to identify a mysterious uboat they discovered in 1991 off the coast of new jersey. Diving german uboats off the east coast draugas news. Resor on february 28 off the northern jersey coast was still on the prowl. An intact german submarine from the first world war containing the bodies of 23 people has been found on the bottom of. Oct 21, 2014 the german sub, the u 576, was found at the bottom of the atlantic 30 miles off cape hatteras and just 240 yards from an american merchant ship, the merchant tanker bluefields, which was part of a. New jersey police find sunken fishing boat, but captain. Lost ww1 german uboat wreck found off norfolk coast bbc news.
Two days after their arrival in new york, ul230, still lingering about the coast, sank the 5,458ton canadian freighter cornwallis, which was carrying sugar and molasses from barbados to st. On 31 august, 1997 these same divers reported evidence that the boat they found is the u 869 knife inscribed with a u 869 crew members name, uzo torpedo aiming device, machinerynumbers from the engine room. According to navy records, the u 858 was eventually scuttled in deep water somewhere off the new england coast. Jul, 2018 a discovery off the coast of cape may shows a ship brought down during world war ii is in the waters off new jersey, not canada.
It was commissioned on 26 january 1944 with kapitanleutnant helmuth neuerburg in command. Missing boat found off new jersey coast national fisherman. In the ensuing freeforall, the sub sank one ship and damaged two others but was assailed by aircraft and escorts. In addition to being compellingly readable on every page, the book offers a unique window on the deep, almost reckless nature of the human quest to know. The young captain of the submarine, twenty eight year old helmut neuerburg, had been extra cautious on his voyage to his detachment point. According to navy records, the u858 was eventually scuttled in deep water somewhere off the new england coast. Clive cussler robert kursons shadow divers, about the divers exploring a sunken shipwreck off the new jersey coast, is a gripping account of reallife adventurers and a reallife mystery. U869 is confirmed as the mysterious uwho a german uboat was found off the coast of new jersey, usa on 2 sept, 1991 by several divers. It shocked me when i found out that the germans had been so close. On 31 august, 1997 these same divers reported evidence that the boat they found is the u869 knife inscribed with a u869 crew members name, uzo torpedo aiming device, machinerynumbers from the engine room. The u550 was found on monday by a privately funded group organised by new jersey lawyer joe mazraani.
In the tradition of jon krakauers into thin air and sebastian jun. Jan 21, 2016 the wreck of a world war one german u boat has been found off the coast of norfolk. On the sandy bottom between new jersey s cape may and block. Nagle discovered the resting place of a world war ii german uboat, a wartime loss with the 56 man crew still aboard. The boat underwent acceptance trails on january 17th 1944, and was then commissioned into the kreigsmarine on january 26 1944 as u869. Coast guard, nypd, fdny, and new jersey state police started searching tuesday for the missing boat, and a state police marine services bureau boat with side scan sonar devices found a. Sunken world war ii submarine found off nantucket telegraph. Jul 08, 2004 the new book shadow divers tells the true story of two dive enthusiasts who solved a mystery from world war two off the coast of new jersey. Section 2, subsection a describes the allied belief that the u869 might in fact still be headed for the new york approaches, despite a change in operational orders directing her to gibraltar.
This is the battleground of operation drumbeat in 1942 and the continued german u boat strikes throughout the war. It was the second trip in two years to the site by the team, some of. Merchant ship sunk by nazi u boat off cape may reveals secret that is changing an episode in wwii history books by tommy rowan, updated. Arundo, taken only days before the fatal torpedoing, shown with the locomotives lashed to the after deck. The new book shadow divers tells the true story of two dive enthusiasts who solved a mystery from world war two off the coast of new jersey. A german u boat was found off the coast of new jersey, usa on 2 sept, 1991 by several divers. Smart news keeping you current wreck of nazi germanys most advanced uboat discovered sunk in 1945, u3523, a type xxi sub, may have been attempting to smuggle highranking nazis to argentina. The red line shows the approximate route for the north atlantic convoys.
But in 1991, not even these bold divers were prepared for what they found 230 feet below the surface, in the frigid atlantic waters sixty miles off the new jersey coast. A personal account of the german u boat battles of w. The u550 is one of several world war iiera german uboats that have been discovered off the us coast, but its the only one that sank in that area, mazraani said. John chatterton explores the mystery uboat sunk off the new jersey coast. Smit tak another angle on the story of raising german uboat u534 duration. In this animated feature, lead yourself on a selfguided tour of u869, a type ixc40 uboat that sank for reasons. Wreck of nazi germanys most advanced uboat discovered. In 1991, deepwreck divers john chatterton and bill nagle found a sunken german uboat 60 miles off the coast of new jersey. This map does not include the boats scuttled there postwar. Merchant ship sunk by nazi uboat off cape may reveals secret.
On december 29, 1944 u boat command radioed the submarine to patrol an area off the new jersey coast. Jul 25, 2004 the u boat was reported to have been sunk off casablanca by depth charges from the destroyer uss fowler de222 and the french submarine chaser lindiscret at 34. Coast guard searching for missing boat 40 miles off barnegat. Jul 14, 1981 u boat sunk off block island in 45 casts spell over divers. Kursons new focus is the larger historical worlda world of uboats, forensics and. But history records do not mention any such submarine in the area. It was the second trip in two years to the site by the team, some of whom had been searching for. In the ensuing freeforall, the sub sank one ship and damaged two. Apr 24, 2018 smart news keeping you current wreck of nazi germanys most advanced uboat discovered sunk in 1945, u3523, a type xxi sub, may have been attempting to smuggle highranking nazis to argentina. Nagle discovered the resting place of a world war ii german uboat, a. The order was in turn rescinded when the u 869 radioed in her fuel supply. But in the fall of 1991, not even these courageous divers were prepared for what they found 230 feet below the surface, in the frigid atlantic waters sixty miles off the coast of new jersey.
The next morning just as sun began to rise the germans spotted the uss jacob jones, a destroyer sent out to find the german sub that took out the resor. Ritchie kohler and john chatterton plunged to dangerous. The film follows a sixyear odyssey by a group of divers to identify a mysterious u boat they discovered in 1991 off the coast of new jersey. A discovery off the coast of cape may shows a ship brought down during world war ii is in the waters off new jersey, not canada. In the fall of 1991, captain bill nagle of the dive boat seeker led a team of recreational scuba divers on an expedition to explore an unknown wreck site 60 miles off the new jersey coast. Shadow divers published in 2004 is a nonfictional book by robert kurson recounting of the discovery of a world war ii german uboat 60 miles 97 km off the coast of new jersey. Feb 20, 2011 2005 visit to the infamous u who submarine, a type ix german wwii sub sunk in early 1945, and discovered by capt. In his day job, joe mazraani is a criminal defense. A sunken trawler boat found off the jersey shore wednesday is the missing fishing vessel authorities have been looking for since getting reports of a boat in distress near the sandy hook peninsula nearly 24 hours ago, the coast guard confirmed wednesday. When a crew began to dig up pieces of wood underneath a jetty along the new jersey coast, they quickly learned that this wasnt debris. No u boat has been recorded sunk within 100 miles of the wreck. Alarmed by the possibility that this u boat could have dropped off enemy agents, the boston fbi office sent men north to maine.
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