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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Warship

A number of small warships are sunk in New Jersey and New York waters.

subchaser (model)

A subchaser was a small coastal patrol vessel of World War I or II. Subchasers were lightly armed and even more lightly constructed, mostly out of plywood, powered by two diesel (WWII) or three gasoline (WWI) engines. Roughly the same design was used in both wars - 110 ft long, about 100 tons. Almost a thousand were built over both World Wars, and several are lost in the waters around this area. Many private yachts and some larger fishing trawlers were converted to perform this function also, like the Tarantula and the Moonstone. Conversely, some subchasers were converted to other duties after the war, such as the Bronx Queen, pictured below in military trim. Real subchasers were designated SC-, while converted yachts were designated SP-, PY- ( patrol yacht ) or PYc ( patrol yacht - coastal. )

More: Warship ...

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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