Uc66 Wreck
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Wreck Category | non-dangerous wreck |
|
Uc66 Wreck Location Marine Coordinates (DMM) |
50 14.517 N,6 19.888 W |
| Latitude, Longitude Decimal Degrees |
|
| Wreck Depth | 83 m |
| Water Depth | 88 m |
| Water Level Effect | always under water/submerged |
| Vertical Datum | Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide |
| Name | UC66 |
| Type | submarine |
| Flag | DE |
| Sonar Length | 90 |
| Sonar Width | 8 |
| Shadow Height | 4.4 |
| Orientation | 160 |
| Conspic Visual | not visually conspicuous |
| Conspic Radar | not radar conspicuous |
| Original Detection Year | 1990 |
| Last Detection Year | 2018 |
| Original Source | survey vessel |
| Surveying Details | HH090/499/01 31.1.91 WK LOCATED 10.8.90 IN 501431N, 061949W [OGB]. ESTIMATED LEAST DEPTH 84 IN GEN DEPTH 87MTRS. DCS3 HT 3MTRS, LENGTH 25MTRS, WIDTH 10MTRS. NOT FULLY EXAM'D. (THMR LTD, HI 499). INS AS NDW. - NM 553/91. HH090/499/02 19.7.91 EXAM'D 21.5.91 IN 501429.2N, 061949.7W [OGB] USING DGPS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 82.9 IN GEN DEPTH 88.4MTRS. NO SCOUR. DCS3 HT 4.4MTRS, LENGTH 90MTRS, BEAM 8MTRS. WELL DEFINED, APPARENTLY BADLY DAMAGED AND BUCKLED. LIES 160/340 DEG. CENTRAL HIGH POINT. (NP 1008, HI 527). FROM SONAR TRACE APPEARS TO BE WK OF A SUBMARINE. AMEND TO WK 83MTRS. BR STD. 22.6.09 DIVED 15 & 16.6.09, CONFIRMED AS WK OF GERMAN SUBMARINE OF WWI VINTAGE IN GEN DEPTH OF 95MTRS . LARGE 'ATLANTIC' TYPE, BROKEN IN HALF IN FRONT OF THE CONNING TOWER, WITH 88MM AMMUNITION SCATTERED AROUND WHICH IS STAMPED 1905. BRONZE PROP. CROCKERY FOUND WITH IMPERIAL GERMAN MARKINGS. (G POUND, TELECOM DTD 22.6.09). NCA. 16.12.21 IN OCTOBER 2018, IN CONJUNCTION WITH Dr McCARTNEY, A SURVEY OF THE WRECK SITE ABOUT 15nm NORTH OF THE ISLES OF SCILLY WAS MADE USING AN ROV FROM THE VESSEL SEVERN SEA OF MARINE CONTRACTORS KEYNVOR MORLIFT OF APPLEDORE IN DEVON. THE SUBMARINE WAS SEEN TO BE BROKEN IN TWO, AND THE DISTINCTIVE RAISED SECTION OF THE FORWARD CASING SHOWED IT TO BE A UCII CLASS MINELAYER. AS UC66 WAS THE ONLY UCII TO HAVE BEEN LOST AT THE TIME, AND THE LOCATION CLOSE TO WHERE THE ACTION OF 27 MAY 1917 TOOK PLACE, THE IDENTIY OF THE WRECK COULD BE CONFIRMED AS UC66. |
| Last Amended Date | Dec 16, 2021 |
Circumstances of loss
27th MAY 1917 RNAS IN ISLE SCILLY, CURTIS H.12 8656 (SEAPLANE)WAS DISPATCHED TO SEARCH FOE A U-BOAT REPORTED SHELLING A COASTAL VESSEL TO THE NORTH OF SCILLY. THIS WAS HMS ACTON, THE 1,288 GROSS TONS FORMER CORK STEAMSHIP Co HARELDA TAKEN INTO SERVICE BY ROYAL NAVY AS A Q-SHIP. THESE APPARENTLY INNOCENT LOOKING DECOY SHIPS WERE INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE A U-BOAT TO MAKE A SURFACE ATTACK AND THEN ENGAGE THE SUBMARINE WITH ITS OWN CONCEALED ARMAMENT. AT 10:25 FOUR 100lb BOMBS WERE DROPPED FROM H.12 AND TWO DIRECT HITS ON THE CONNING TOWER OBSERVED. THE U-BOAT SANK BY THE BOW, THE STERN COMING OUT OF THE WATER AT AN ANGLE OF 60 DEGREES.
Nearby Wrecks:
- Strathnairn (Possibly) Wreck 8212.9 M
- Holland Iii (Probably) Wreck 10093.4 M
- Nord Carperren Wreck 10490.3 M
- Steam Ship Wreck 57085 19461.8 M
- Other Wreck 45873 20279.7 M
- Tralee Trader Wreck 21512.2 M
- Steam Ship Wreck 16394 23607.2 M
- Other Wreck 16407 24023.5 M
- Drifter Wreck 28150 24193.7 M
- Girl Patricia Wreck 24883.7 M
General Comments
BROKEN IN HALF FORWARD OF THE CONNING TOWER