During her active career she sailed on six war patrols, sinking six merchant ships and damaging six more. She also sank the British Anchusa-class sloop HMS Arbutus.[5]
The U-boat was lost off Padstow, Cornwall on or after 14 July 1918 with the loss of all her 37 crew.[5]
RediscoveryEdit
An expedition mounted in 2004 as part of the Channel 4Wreck Detectives underwater archaeological TV series to survey a previously unidentified U-boat wreck that had been located earlier at 50°36′40″N5°00′18″W / 50.611°N 5.005°W / 50.611; -5.005, during a routine survey by the Royal Navy, confirmed the identity of the boat as UB-65. Inspection of the wreck by nautical archaeologist Innes McCartney and U-boat historian Dr. Axel Niestlé (through identification of design features such as the type of deck gun, and identification numbers that were stamped on one of her propellers) proved conclusively that the wreck was that of UB-65. A survey of the wreck showed no obvious indication of weapon attack being the cause of loss (although this could not be ruled out; damage assessment expert David Manley determined that shock damage from a depth charge attack could have caused loss through failure of internal seawater systems and hull penetrations that would not be obvious from an external examination). The aft hatches were open, indicating a possible attempt by at least some of the crew to escape from the vessel. Consideration of the various observations of the wreck, along with historical observations regarding depth control and handling difficulties on diving experienced by other boats of the class, led to a conclusion that she was most likely lost through accidental causes on or after 14 July 1918, the date of the sinking of a Portuguese vessel in the Padstow area. All of her crew of 37 were listed as lost.[3] Having been identified as UB-65 the wreck was given protected place status under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 on 1 November 2006.[6]
Previous beliefs regarding lossEdit
The identification of the Padstow U-boat wreck corrected the earlier accepted version of UB-65's loss. According to official German Naval records the boat was presumed lost following a premature explosion of one of her own torpedoes on 10 July 1918, south of the Irish coast.[1]
According to United States Navy records it was reported that, whilst returning from patrol and near Fastnet Rock, the U.S. submarine L-2 observed what the captain Paul F. Foster first took to be a buoy on the horizon. Moving closer, Captain Foster found that it was actually a German submarine, only later to be identified as UB-65. It was listing heavily on the water's surface, seemingly disabled. Forster guided his sub around it, hoping to line up a torpedo shot. But before he could do so, the crippled vessel was torn apart by a huge explosion. UB-65 rose up on its bows and sank. There were no survivors and no bodies were ever recovered. The sound of small propellers and an underwater signalling device could be heard for a short while after the explosion. The cause of the explosion was not known.
RECORD ITEM Y1022 ROLL ONI ROLL PG 61825 58 TA-17-D
Admiralstab der Marine, Abt. A, KTB, Band 1, U.B.65 der V.U.Flottille und der II. U. Flottille.
Kommandant: Kaptlt. Schelle. U.B.65 conducted operations in the Irish Sea, the western Hebrides, and St George's Channel. U.B.65 sank among other vessels an unidentified British armed vessel (probably the sloop HMS Arbutus) on 15 December 1917; the Norwegian steamer "Havana" (1,150 t), 5 March 1918; and the British steamer "Pensilva" (4,316 t), 4 May 1918. U.B.65 departed from Heligoland 2 July 1918, for war operations and was accidentally sunk on 10 July 1918.
UB-65 is the subject of many tales of a ghost, said to be the second officer, Lieutenant Richter, who was killed when a torpedo exploded fairly early in the U-boat's career. Indeed, the building of the ship was plagued by disaster, including asphyxiation of three crew members by diesel fumes in the engine room and the crushing of two more by a falling girder. While UB-65 was being tested for seaworthiness, one of the crew members was swept overboard when he was inspecting the hatches. He was never seen again. During the first test dive of UB-65, a fracture occurred in a ballast tank, causing the submarine to sink to the bottom of the sea. The crew lacked any means of renewing the oxygen in the vessel, but after 12 hours the crew finally managed to raise the submarine to the surface of the ocean. These incidents may have given rise to a belief among the crew that the ship was cursed. As no one wanted to board or be stationed on the ship, it is believed that the German Imperial Navy called a priest on board to exorcise the ship.[7][8][9] In his book "Tales of Real Haunting", Tony Allan quotes "According to one source, the American officer thought he saw someone on deck just before UB-65 went down. It was a figure in a German officer's overcoat, standing near the bow with folded arms. If this can be believed, Lieutenant Richter may have put in a final appearance".
According to researchers George Behe and Michael Goss, the stories about hauntings from UB-65 were invented by the journalist Hector Charles Bywater, who wrote about the subject. They speculated that Bywater was a good story teller who had invented some of his references, such as a post-war pamphlet written by a "Dr. Hecht". Behe and Goss concluded that "Official documents make it extremely difficult to believe that UB-65 was haunted... The responsibility for that rumor-like legend in all its dramatic detail cannot be traced back with any certainty before Hector C. Bywater."[10]
^ abInnes McCartney (2015). The Maritime Archaeology of a Modern Conflict: Comparing the Archaeology of German Submarine Wrecks to the Historical Text. New York: Routledge. pp. 119–123. ISBN978-1138814356.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Martin Schelle". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
^ abcHelgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 65". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
^"The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2006". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
^Donahue, James. "Haunting of German Submarine U-65". Retrieved 9 October 2008.
^UB-65 - A German submarine 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
^Digest, Reader's (1975). "Ghost on the prow". Strange Stories, Amazing Facts. Reader's Digest. p. 384.
^Behe, George; Goss, Michael. (2005). Lost at Sea: Ghost Ships and Other Mysteries. Prometheus Books. pp. 152–166. ISBN1-57866-147-1
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB-65". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
BibliographyEdit
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Rössler, Eberhard (1979). U-Bootbau bis Ende des 1. Weltkrieges, Konstruktionen für das Ausland und die Jahre 1935 – 1945. ISBN3-7637-5213-7. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
External linksEdit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB-65". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
SI 2006/2616 Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986
September 02, 2023
other, ships, with, same, name, german, submarine, type, boat, imperial, german, navy, during, world, ordered, 1916, boat, built, vulkan, werke, shipyard, hamburg, launched, june, 1917, commissioned, august, 1917, under, command, kapitänleutnant, martin, schel. For other ships with the same name see German submarine U 65 SM UB 65 was a Type UB III U boat of the Imperial German Navy during World War I Ordered on 20 May 1916 the U boat was built at the Vulkan Werke shipyard in Hamburg launched on 26 June 1917 and commissioned on 18 August 1917 under the command of Kapitanleutnant Martin Schelle 5 HistoryGerman EmpireNameUB 65Ordered20 May 1916 2 BuilderVulkan Werke HamburgYard number90Launched26 June 1917 1 Commissioned18 August 1917 1 FateLost to unknown cause off Padstow Cornwall after 14 July 1918 3 General characteristics 1 Class and typeGerman Type UB III submarineDisplacement508 t 500 long tons surfaced 639 t 629 long tons submergedLength55 52 m 182 ft 2 in o a Beam5 76 m 18 ft 11 in Draught3 70 m 12 ft 2 in Propulsion2 propeller shaft 2 MAN four stroke 6 cylinder diesel engines 1 050 bhp 780 kW 2 Siemens Schuckert electric motors 780 shp 580 kW Speed13 3 knots 24 6 km h 15 3 mph surfaced 8 knots 15 km h 9 2 mph submergedRange8 420 nmi 15 590 km 9 690 mi at 6 knots 11 km h 6 9 mph surfaced 55 nmi 102 km 63 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submergedTest depth50 m 160 ft Complement3 officers 31 men 1 Armament5 torpedo tubes 4 bow 1 stern 10 torpedoes 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gunService recordPart of V Flotilla 30 September 1917 18 April 1918 II Flotilla 18 April 14 July 1918Commanders Kptlt Martin Schelle 4 18 August 1917 14 July 1918Operations 6 patrolsVictories 6 merchant ships sunk 6 197 GRT 1 warship sunk 1 290 tons 6 merchant ships damaged 11 443 GRT Contents 1 Service history 2 Rediscovery 3 Previous beliefs regarding loss 4 Allegations of haunting 5 Summary of raiding history 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Citations 7 Bibliography 8 External linksService history EditDuring her active career she sailed on six war patrols sinking six merchant ships and damaging six more She also sank the British Anchusa class sloop HMS Arbutus 5 The U boat was lost off Padstow Cornwall on or after 14 July 1918 with the loss of all her 37 crew 5 Rediscovery EditAn expedition mounted in 2004 as part of the Channel 4 Wreck Detectives underwater archaeological TV series to survey a previously unidentified U boat wreck that had been located earlier at 50 36 40 N 5 00 18 W 50 611 N 5 005 W 50 611 5 005 during a routine survey by the Royal Navy confirmed the identity of the boat as UB 65 Inspection of the wreck by nautical archaeologist Innes McCartney and U boat historian Dr Axel Niestle through identification of design features such as the type of deck gun and identification numbers that were stamped on one of her propellers proved conclusively that the wreck was that of UB 65 A survey of the wreck showed no obvious indication of weapon attack being the cause of loss although this could not be ruled out damage assessment expert David Manley determined that shock damage from a depth charge attack could have caused loss through failure of internal seawater systems and hull penetrations that would not be obvious from an external examination The aft hatches were open indicating a possible attempt by at least some of the crew to escape from the vessel Consideration of the various observations of the wreck along with historical observations regarding depth control and handling difficulties on diving experienced by other boats of the class led to a conclusion that she was most likely lost through accidental causes on or after 14 July 1918 the date of the sinking of a Portuguese vessel in the Padstow area All of her crew of 37 were listed as lost 3 Having been identified as UB 65 the wreck was given protected place status under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 on 1 November 2006 6 Previous beliefs regarding loss EditThe identification of the Padstow U boat wreck corrected the earlier accepted version of UB 65 s loss According to official German Naval records the boat was presumed lost following a premature explosion of one of her own torpedoes on 10 July 1918 south of the Irish coast 1 According to United States Navy records it was reported that whilst returning from patrol and near Fastnet Rock the U S submarine L 2 observed what the captain Paul F Foster first took to be a buoy on the horizon Moving closer Captain Foster found that it was actually a German submarine only later to be identified as UB 65 It was listing heavily on the water s surface seemingly disabled Forster guided his sub around it hoping to line up a torpedo shot But before he could do so the crippled vessel was torn apart by a huge explosion UB 65 rose up on its bows and sank There were no survivors and no bodies were ever recovered The sound of small propellers and an underwater signalling device could be heard for a short while after the explosion The cause of the explosion was not known RECORD ITEM Y1022 ROLL ONI ROLLPG 61825 58 TA 17 DAdmiralstab der Marine Abt A KTB Band 1 U B 65 der V U Flottille und der II U Flottille Kommandant Kaptlt Schelle U B 65 conducted operations in the Irish Sea the western Hebrides and St George s Channel U B 65 sank among other vessels an unidentified British armed vessel probably the sloop HMS Arbutus on 15 December 1917 the Norwegian steamer Havana 1 150 t 5 March 1918 and the British steamer Pensilva 4 316 t 4 May 1918 U B 65 departed from Heligoland 2 July 1918 for war operations and was accidentally sunk on 10 July 1918 National Archives and Records Service U S General Services Administration Washington 1984Allegations of haunting EditUB 65 is the subject of many tales of a ghost said to be the second officer Lieutenant Richter who was killed when a torpedo exploded fairly early in the U boat s career Indeed the building of the ship was plagued by disaster including asphyxiation of three crew members by diesel fumes in the engine room and the crushing of two more by a falling girder While UB 65 was being tested for seaworthiness one of the crew members was swept overboard when he was inspecting the hatches He was never seen again During the first test dive of UB 65 a fracture occurred in a ballast tank causing the submarine to sink to the bottom of the sea The crew lacked any means of renewing the oxygen in the vessel but after 12 hours the crew finally managed to raise the submarine to the surface of the ocean These incidents may have given rise to a belief among the crew that the ship was cursed As no one wanted to board or be stationed on the ship it is believed that the German Imperial Navy called a priest on board to exorcise the ship 7 8 9 In his book Tales of Real Haunting Tony Allan quotes According to one source the American officer thought he saw someone on deck just before UB 65 went down It was a figure in a German officer s overcoat standing near the bow with folded arms If this can be believed Lieutenant Richter may have put in a final appearance According to researchers George Behe and Michael Goss the stories about hauntings from UB 65 were invented by the journalist Hector Charles Bywater who wrote about the subject They speculated that Bywater was a good story teller who had invented some of his references such as a post war pamphlet written by a Dr Hecht Behe and Goss concluded that Official documents make it extremely difficult to believe that UB 65 was haunted The responsibility for that rumor like legend in all its dramatic detail cannot be traced back with any certainty before Hector C Bywater 10 Summary of raiding history EditDate Name Nationality Tonnage Note 1 Fate 11 31 October 1917 Margrete nbsp Denmark 1 277 Damaged12 December 1917 Bellville nbsp Sweden 992 Sunk12 December 1917 Charleston nbsp United Kingdom 1 866 Sunk14 December 1917 Nor nbsp Norway 1 418 Sunk16 December 1917 HMS Arbutus nbsp Royal Navy 1 290 Sunk2 March 1918 Havna nbsp Norway 1 150 Sunk4 May 1918 Pensilva nbsp United Kingdom 4 316 Damaged5 May 1918 Pandora nbsp United Kingdom 85 Damaged5 May 1918 M J Hedley nbsp United Kingdom 449 Damaged8 May 1918 Elizabetta nbsp United Kingdom 335 Damaged8 May 1918 Thoralf nbsp Denmark 586 Sunk13 May 1918 Esperanza De Larrinaga nbsp United Kingdom 4 981 Damaged14 July 1918 Maria Jose nbsp Portugal 185 SunkReferences EditNotes Edit Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations Edit a b c d e Groner 1991 pp 25 30 Rossler 1979 p 60 a b Innes McCartney 2015 The Maritime Archaeology of a Modern Conflict Comparing the Archaeology of German Submarine Wrecks to the Historical Text New York Routledge pp 119 123 ISBN 978 1138814356 Helgason Gudmundur WWI U boat commanders Martin Schelle German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 4 February 2015 a b c Helgason Gudmundur WWI U boats UB 65 German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 29 September 2010 The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites Order 2006 legislation gov uk Retrieved 29 September 2010 Donahue James Haunting of German Submarine U 65 Retrieved 9 October 2008 UB 65 A German submarine Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Digest Reader s 1975 Ghost on the prow Strange Stories Amazing Facts Reader s Digest p 384 Behe George Goss Michael 2005 Lost at Sea Ghost Ships and Other Mysteries Prometheus Books pp 152 166 ISBN 1 57866 147 1 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by UB 65 German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 4 February 2015 Bibliography EditGroner Erich Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 German Warships 1815 1945 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels Vol 2 Translated by Thomas Keith Magowan Rachel London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 593 4 Rossler Eberhard 1979 U Bootbau bis Ende des 1 Weltkrieges Konstruktionen fur das Ausland und die Jahre 1935 1945 ISBN 3 7637 5213 7 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help External links EditHelgason Gudmundur WWI U boats UB 65 German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net SI 2006 2616 Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SM UB 65 amp oldid 1172001435, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
