Posted by Robert F. Marble on April 28, 19100 at 21:24:47:
In Reply to: Re: Sunken German U-BOAT in Lake Michigan posted by john cashler on January 08, 19100 at 18:16:10:
: : : Does anyone know anything about a WWI submarine that
: : : was sunk intentionaly afte the war?
: : : I think it was sunk n Lake Micigan
: : : Thanks
: According to Charles A. Lockwood Vice Admiral, U.S.N (Ret.) Author of "DOWN TO THE SEA IN SUBS" piblished by W.W. Norton:
& Company . Inc. New York in 1967..........
There were 6 German subs acquired by the
U.S. Navy in the spring of 1919....one of each type.... They were the
UC-97, UB-88, UB-148, U-117, U-111 and U-140.The U-111 sailed unescorted from the West Coast of England and the U-140 was
towed by a Collier. The Submarine Tender
USS Bushnell left England towing the UC-97,
with the U-117, UB-88 and UB-148 in a column at the rear. After a tumultuous 24-day
voyage to New York , and a stupendous welcome, they plowed their way up the East River, under the Brooklyn Bridge to berths at the New York Navy Yard. Technicians from the
Navy Dept., submarine building yards swarmed over the boats. Most of the boats were scattered all along the coastlines and
waterways of the Unitede States. The UC-97
was assigned to tour all 5 Great Lakes for the
Fifth Victory Loan Drive. Eventually, she pulled into Chicago and tied up at the Navy Pier. The rest of the story you know..........if you would like a copy of: Chapter #8 THE KAISER'S SUBMARINE NAVY, an excerpt from "Down To The Sea In Subs" let me know and I'll "snail-mail" it to you.The book naturally is out of print but most good libraries have a copy.
THE OLDE SUMARINE SAILOR,
BUBBLEHEAD BOB
0
:
: : You are refering to the UC-97, a type UCIII German mine laying submarine. She was never commisioned for active duty during WWI but was surrendered along with 175 other German U-Boats at the end of the war. The US brought 5 of these back to the States for technical study and to be used as war trophys for advertising the Victory Bond drive. As per terms of their surrender, all of these U-Boats were eventually destroyed. The UC-97 was stripped of all of its armaments as well as it's propulsion and navigational equipment and towed out into Lake Michigan by the U.S.S. Hawk. The UC-97 was then sunk by a barrage of shells fired from the U.S.S. Wilmette. (The U.S.S. Wilmette had been constructed from the hull of the ill fated passenger ship the Eastland.)
: : The wreckage of the UC-97 was located in '92 by A&T Recovery but it's location has not been made public. The Navy's records indicate that the location of it's sinking was 42 deg. 10' N, 87 deg. 20' W, which is about 20 miles east of Highland Park, IL. However, if this was very accurate, then it wouldn't have taken A&T as long to locate it as it did. The video of the UC-97 that A&T has made public, indicates that it is approximately 250' deep. Other searches for the wreckage have been ongoing, but I am not aware of anyone else locating her.