U 671 Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category non-dangerous wreck
U 671 Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		50 23.684 N,0 19.081 E
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 50.394733
  • Longitude: 0.318017
Wreck Depth 36 m
Water Depth 41 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name U 671
Type submarine
Flag DE
Length 67.1 m
Width 6.1 m
Draught 4.9
Sonar Length 64
Sonar Width 6
Shadow Height 5
Orientation 3
Tonnage 871
Tonnage Type displacement
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Aug 5, 1944
Bottom Texture Sand
Original Detection Year 1944
Last Detection Year 2013
Original Source naval vessel
Last Amended Date Jan 20, 2014

Simplified Wreck Survey

The UK Hydrographic Office wreck of the German submarine U-671 is located off the coast of Beachy Head in the English Channel at coordinates 50 23.684 N, 0 19.081 E. Confirmed as a World War II Type VIIC U-boat, this historic underwater obstruction lies upright on a shingle seabed at a general depth of around 41 to 45 meters, with a least depth over the wreck of approximately 36.69 meters. Archaeological and diver surveys provide detailed structural descriptions of the submarine: it measures roughly 64 to 70 meters in length, 6 to 7 meters in beam, and stands about 5 to 6 meters high, lying in an east-west orientation with the bow facing west-southwest. The U-boat is noted for being largely intact, listing to the starboard side at an angle, with open hatches, a crushed conning tower featuring attached radar masts, and the port screw still in place. Notable structural damage includes heavy impact marks to the bow area consistent with a historical depth charge attack, creating a large hole aft of the bow on the port side, while the stern remains well preserved.

Surveying Details

H067/44 10.8.44 LOCATED 175DEGS, 20M FROM BEACHY HEAD OR 502400N, 001730E. (C-IN-C PORTSMOUTH, 5.8.44). H3135/44 29.8.44 POSN 502348N, 001818E. (PORTSMOUTH LIST NO.51, 24.8.44). 7.11.44 HMS STAYNERS REPORT GIVES POSN AS 502354N, 001818E. SIGNAL DTD 7.11.44 REQUESTS EXAMINATION OF U 671 AND GIVES POSN AS 502300N, 000600E. 23.6.69 POSN 502300N, 000600E APPROX IN VARIOUS GERMAN RECORDS AND LOSS BOOKS. H4959/73 23.4.75 EXAM'D 9.10.74 IN 502345N, 001900E [OGB] USING HIFIX/6 [2 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 39 IN GEN DEPTH 42MTRS. DCS3 HT 6MTRS. LENGTH APPROX 200FT. RECOGNISABLE AS SUBMARINE. LIES APPROX E/W. (HMS BULLDOG, HI 55/74). INS AS WK 36MTRS [19FMS]. - NM 1531/75. 15.6.76 POSITION COMPUTED FROM HIFIX COORDS SUBMITTED BY HMS BULLDOG FOR HI 55/74 IS 502342N, 001901.5E. NCA YET. AWAIT CLARIFICATION FROM SOISS. H4121/76 3.8.76 EXAM'D 8.7.76 IN 502339N, 001911E [OGB] USING HIFIX/6 [2 LOP]. HMS BULLDOG'S POSITON WAS ONE LANE HIGH. CLEARANCE SWEEP ONLY UNDERTAKEN. SWEPT CLEAR AT 30.9MTRS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 36.6 IN GEN DEPTH 41.5MTRS. LIES 105/285DEGS. LENGTH 250FT. (HMS ECHO, HI 41/76). AMEND TO SW 30.5MTRS [16FMS 5FT] IN 502339N, 001911E [OGB]. BR STD. H1310/86/28 10.11.86 LOCATED USING DECCA. (C MARTIN, 2.11.86). NCA. HH100/351/14 12.7.99 DIVED IN LISTED POSN. CONFIRMED AS LATE WW2 TYPE VIIC U-BOAT. VERY INTACT. (I MCCARTNEY, FAX DTD 12.7.99). NCA. 31.8.99 LIES AT AN ANGLE TO 45DEGS TO THE SEABED. STERN INTACT. LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE BOW, INDICATIVE OF A DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK. (DIVER MAGAZINE, SEP'99). NCA.16.8.01 [EUT] POSN: 5023.690N, 0019.093E. NE 2450. HH100/351/22 14.11.06 DIVED ON 14.9.06 IN LISTED POSN. LIES INTACT LISTING TO STARBOARD SIDE. CONNING TOWER SHOWS SIGNS OF BEING CRUSHED. TWO MASTS, POSSIBLY RADAR, STILL ATTACHED. HATCHES OPEN. HULL BRIGHT ORANGE WITH RUST, NO SEALIFE PRESENT. LEAST DEPTH 39MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 44.7MTRS. LENGTH 70MTRS, BEAM 7MTRS, HEIGHT 6MTRS. LYING E/W, BOWS W, ON SHINGLE SEABED. PORT SIDE BOW DAMAGED, LARGE HOLE AFT OF BOW, PORT SCREW STILL IN PLACE. (GREGG THOMAS, FAX DTD 10.11.06). 20.1.14 EXAM'D 6.10.13 IN 5023.684N, 0019.081E [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 36.69 IN GEN DEPTH 41.5MTRS. NO SCOUR. LENGTH 64MTRS, WIDTH 6MTRS, HT 5MTRS. LIES 073/253 DEGS WITH BOWS SSW. INTACT. (GARDLINE GEOSURVEY, HI 1416). AMEND WK 36MTRS IN REVISED POSN.

Circumstances of loss

5.8.44 DEPTH-CHARGED AND SUNK BY HM SHIPS STAYNER AND WENSLEYDALE. (C-IN-C PORTSMOUTH, 5.8.44). 47 MEMBERS OF CREW LOST, 6 RECOVERED WHO CONFIRMED THE BOAT'S IDENTITIY. (U BOATS DESTROYED).

General Comments

INTACT, BOWS WSW

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 50 23.684 N,0 19.081 E
U 671 on Wreck Map U 671 Wreck on Google Map

More Submarine Wrecks:

Nearby Wrecks:

FAQ

Where is the U 671 wreck located?

The U 671 wreck is located at coordinates 50 23.684 N,0 19.081 E.

How deep is the U 671 and where exactly is it located?

The U 671 lies at a depth of about 36 meters and is located at coordinates 50 23.684 N,0 19.081 E.

How deep is the seabed around the U 671?

The seabed around the U 671 lies at approximately 41 meters deep.

When did the U 671 sink?

The U 671 sank on Aug 5, 1944.

When was the wreck of the U 671 discovered?

The wreck of the U 671 was discovered in 1944.

What country did the U 671 belong to?

The U 671 belonged to DE.

What was the tonnage of the U 671?

The U 671 had a tonnage of 871 tons.

What type of wreck is the U 671?

The U 671 is classified as a submarine.

Back to Wrecks