I found identifying submarines can be obtained by the build / werk numbers Stamped on most non-ferrous valves and associated fittings I've identified 3 type UB111s by this method as the props were were burried or missing
Well done on the the UBs! Unfortunately the interior wasn't accessible and we weren't able to locate anything non-ferrous outside. It's possible that there are quite a few things under the sand that has piled up around the outside.
@@hillbilly4christ638 I looked at that hatch and wondered the same. It's a long way offshore though so extremely unlikely to survive unless another vessel picked them up. There are pretty good records from the period but nothing that covers a battle with a sub at this location.
Submarines should be biodegradable then we wouldn't keep catching our nets on them 😅😅 take an hack saw down with you next time ex Royal Navy submariner and trawler man
No chance of getting any identifying info from the deck gun I guess. That or the prop numbers are about the only way of finding out who it was, aside from going inside and a lot of times that either impossible or unlawful in some cases. Very nice tech dive all the same.
Great video, one of the best i think I've seen of a wreck dive. I read the U-boat net article regarding UC68 which thinks that she sank after hitting her own mines, but looking at that hole in the conning tower and the way her deck gun was trained to port I wonder if she wasn't sunk in some surface action? If this is the case would that mean she isn't the UC68? Does her hull show mine damage?
Thanks, we worked with well known researcher Michael Lowrey on this project and you'll also see that U-boat net has updated their record for UC-68. This was from our first dive on it and I've got a second video that I'm planning to share in the near future. Neither dive revealed any markings on the prop or mine damage. Opinion in the team was divided but my view is similar to yours, i.e it was sunk after a surface action.
@@D33pUK mines arent subtle--that hull is still in one big piece as best i can tell, but that hole in the tower, that wasn't corrosion, that had been hit hard, hard enough to crack off a chunk. I've seen damage similar to that on tanks that have been hit. Re identifying her, I know prop numbers are a good source for ID, but what about serials on the gun? Barrels and breeches have to be proofed and invariably have serial numbers all over the place. I look forwards to seeing the next vid, got me intrigued to find out more!
We've dived this wreck twice and not had any luck with prop scrubbing (no words). It's not 100% conclusive butwe strongly believe this to be UC-68 - uboat.net/wwi/boats/?boat=UC+68
@D33pUK thanks, having started diving in the 1970s I have had a longstanding interest in the U boats around the Westcountry, but the closest I have ever been to this one is sailing south from Plymouth & back a few times.
@@pcka12 There aren't may left that haven't been found! A few years ago we also confirmed the identity of SM U-95 also off the Lizard www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/19354371.pictures-sunken-u-boat-u95-off-lizard-cornwall/
@D33pUK my interest started with the Falmouth U boats from WW1, which my mum (commissioned officer in WW2) remembered afloat from childhood holidays & the wrecked bits of which certainly used to be visible amongst the rocks to the west of Pendennis Castle which is the area in which her parents used to arrange family holidays each Autumn in the 'quiet period' for their own business in Somerset. PS from the article, it seems that Mark M was involved. The last time I spoke to him, he had suffered a heart problem but told me that he had recovered well & was back diving.
Your videos are just amazing! Thank you so much for posting them. I haven't dived in 45 years and never anything like that.
Thanks and glad you enjoy them - more to come when I get the chance!
I found identifying submarines can be obtained by the build / werk numbers Stamped on most non-ferrous valves and associated fittings I've identified 3 type UB111s by this method as the props were were burried or missing
Well done on the the UBs!
Unfortunately the interior wasn't accessible and we weren't able to locate anything non-ferrous outside. It's possible that there are quite a few things under the sand that has piled up around the outside.
Seams the gun is trained towards the hole in the conning tower like it was shooting back at something, but lost.
That's my view as well although not everyone from the dive agrees - unfortunately I doubt we'll ever know for sure!
With that open hatch, I wonder if they free ascended as the vessel sunk. Abandon ship? Worthy of an investigation. Military records?
@@hillbilly4christ638 I looked at that hatch and wondered the same. It's a long way offshore though so extremely unlikely to survive unless another vessel picked them up.
There are pretty good records from the period but nothing that covers a battle with a sub at this location.
Fishing nets should be biodegradable after 10 years.
Couldn't agree more, all deep wrecks are covered in them and will be for hundreds of years.
Absolutely. Newer crab pots are, at least where I live (Newfoundland).
Submarines should be biodegradable then we wouldn't keep catching our nets on them 😅😅 take an hack saw down with you next time ex Royal Navy submariner and trawler man
Fantastic vision... what are the striped fish breed ?
Danny, Australia
Sorry I'm no good on different fish types but we get these a lot on wrecks in the UK!
No chance of getting any identifying info from the deck gun I guess. That or the prop numbers are about the only way of finding out who it was, aside from going inside and a lot of times that either impossible or unlawful in some cases. Very nice tech dive all the same.
We had a look but it's well encrusted and are not sure where the identifying plate on the gun would be or if there is one
Great video, one of the best i think I've seen of a wreck dive. I read the U-boat net article regarding UC68 which thinks that she sank after hitting her own mines, but looking at that hole in the conning tower and the way her deck gun was trained to port I wonder if she wasn't sunk in some surface action? If this is the case would that mean she isn't the UC68? Does her hull show mine damage?
Thanks, we worked with well known researcher Michael Lowrey on this project and you'll also see that U-boat net has updated their record for UC-68.
This was from our first dive on it and I've got a second video that I'm planning to share in the near future. Neither dive revealed any markings on the prop or mine damage.
Opinion in the team was divided but my view is similar to yours, i.e it was sunk after a surface action.
@@D33pUK mines arent subtle--that hull is still in one big piece as best i can tell, but that hole in the tower, that wasn't corrosion, that had been hit hard, hard enough to crack off a chunk. I've seen damage similar to that on tanks that have been hit. Re identifying her, I know prop numbers are a good source for ID, but what about serials on the gun? Barrels and breeches have to be proofed and invariably have serial numbers all over the place. I look forwards to seeing the next vid, got me intrigued to find out more!
Look for truck dives were the japs got caught out
At 6'23" looks like human skeleton.
I can see why you think that but it's just some old net rather than a rib cage!
Any progress in identifying this U boat?
We've dived this wreck twice and not had any luck with prop scrubbing (no words). It's not 100% conclusive butwe strongly believe this to be UC-68 - uboat.net/wwi/boats/?boat=UC+68
@D33pUK thanks, having started diving in the 1970s I have had a longstanding interest in the U boats around the Westcountry, but the closest I have ever been to this one is sailing south from Plymouth & back a few times.
@@pcka12 There aren't may left that haven't been found! A few years ago we also confirmed the identity of SM U-95 also off the Lizard
www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/19354371.pictures-sunken-u-boat-u95-off-lizard-cornwall/
@D33pUK my interest started with the Falmouth U boats from WW1, which my mum (commissioned officer in WW2) remembered afloat from childhood holidays & the wrecked bits of which certainly used to be visible amongst the rocks to the west of Pendennis Castle which is the area in which her parents used to arrange family holidays each Autumn in the 'quiet period' for their own business in Somerset.
PS from the article, it seems that Mark M was involved. The last time I spoke to him, he had suffered a heart problem but told me that he had recovered well & was back diving.
He certainly was but very sadly passed away approx 18 months ago. An awesome skipper and huge personality who is greatly missed