New Jersey Scuba Diving

U-869 (1/5)

Shipwreck U-869
Type:
shipwreck, Type IXc/40 U-boat, Kriegsmarine, Germany
Specs:
( 252 x 22 ft ) 1051 displacement tons, 48-56 crew
Built:
1944, Germany
Sunk:
February 11, 1945
sunk by destroyer escort USS Howard D. Crow - no survivors
Depth:
240 ft

U-869

  1. U-869
U-869 emblem

The "U-Who?" was identified as the U-869. This took some detective work, as neither US nor German records placed the U-869 anywhere near the eastern seaboard, and no submarine was recorded as sunk at the location of the wreck. The initial theory was that the U-869 was the victim of a circular-running torpedo, one which malfunctioned and homed in on the sub that launched it. While there are numerous documented cases of this, a submarine can usually detect a circular-runner and evade it by diving under it. Self-kills were rare.

That theory also does not explain the extensive damage at two locations on the wreck. ( Two torpedoes? Even more unlikely. ) Much more likely is that the sub was sunk by Coast Guard convoy escorts in an attack on Feb 11, 1945. But since there was no definite confirmation of a kill, the Navy denied the Coast Guard credit for anything, which was not uncommon. According to Navy records, the Coasties just wasted a lot of ammunition on nothing. See below for details.

Type IX U-boat
Horenberg knife
Horenberg knife
The now-famous "Horenberg knife"
U-869 Dish
German Navy markings on a dish
Shipwreck U-869
U-869

The U-869 never sank a ship. The remains of the crew are still inside the broken hull, and even today this hapless boat continues to take lives: 3 divers have died on her since her discovery in 1991.

U-869 Dish
Side-scan of the U-869
 1 2 3 4 5  

Deep Sea Dive Sites, Dive Sites, New Jersey Dive Sites, New York Dive Sites, Submarines, World War II,

Comments on U-869

John Hines:

July 12, 2022 at 2:47 pm

Is U 869 still being dived on?
Paper records, enigma recovered??

njscuba:

July 12, 2022 at 3:37 pm

I don't think any charter boat is going out there anymore. AFAIK the enigma machine is still in it. It's not worth your life!

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Lobstering - Know Your Foe

bug
This little guy will be safe from divers for a while. Notice how the tailings of his excavation are a different color than the surrounding bottom.

Lobsters, like most invertebrates, have a much slower nervous system than our own. In tiny creatures, such as insects, this is no great disadvantage, since their "wire runs" ( or nerves ) are so short. However, in bigger invertebrates, this translates into very long reaction times. Therefore, big lobsters have slow reflexes, much slower than even humans. Another common invertebrate trait is a lack of stamina, at least compared to us. In other words, they tire quickly in a chase. This is not to say that they lack tenacity - once they get a good grip on you, they can hold on forever, and even breaking the claw off may not cause it to release.

More: Lobstering - Know Your Foe ...

Disclaimer:

I make no claim as to the accuracy, validity, or appropriateness of any information found in this website. I will not be responsible for the consequences of any action that is based upon information found here. Scuba diving is an adventure sport, and as always, you alone are responsible for your own safety and well being.

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