View Full Version : U boats in the Clyde
Having looked at the link for the U.33 provided by Ding, this got me thinking about the possibility of other U-boats in the Clyde. When I was learning to dive in the mid 70's, I distinctly remember being told about a U-boat in the Clyde that my mates were going to salvage the batteries from. They were talking about the dive afterwards and how they were unsuccessful in their salvage operation.
However, some years later I was part of a group going to dive the U.33 south of Pladda. My buddy felt uneasy at 45 metres, so we had to return topside. Was this the same wreck that my mates were talking about? I asked myself. It is unlikely that this was the same wreck due to it's location and depth.
Over the years, I still don't remember any reports of another U-boat in the Clyde which is more easily accessible despite research on the Internet which provided nothing. Was this a wreck that the location had been kept secret, or were they trying to impress a naive teenager.
I have dived near the U33 but missed it but will be diving it in the near future with Atlantic divers
PS have u heard about Operation deadlight?
http://www.operationdeadlight.co.uk/
isnt the U-33 in 63 meters of water, south of Arran?
never dived it myself, but i know a man who has.
the U-33 is the only one located near the clyde estuary that i'm aware of.
http://uboat.net/maps/images/irish_sea.gif
didnt someone recently discover a U-boat on the east coast?
around burntisland perhaps?
The seabed was on 60.5m, we had the sub on the echosounder dropped the anchor got kitted up rolled over the side, on the bottom I saw a trough along the seabed where the anchor had been dragged. swimming againsed the current with sideslings at 60m is not advised. This was our second attempt the first time our lat/longs were wrong. Did u look at the deadlight website, 50 odd subs sunk on our doorstep, yes their deep but nothing worthwile is easy.
I heard a story about 3 uboats sunk north of portpatrick part of deadlight but did not get to deep water 40m
didnt someone recently discover a U-boat on the east coast?
around burntisland perhaps?
I dont think there is one around Burntisland, there is one at Dunbar though.... Its a WW1 Minelaying U Boat, which is thought to be U-74
http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=74
I have dived it. It lies in about 42m (at LW).
There was article in the papers the other week about the identification of a sub off Eyemouth, in 60m. I think this was a H class sub, which might be a Yank sub?
gogs
Gogs,
Any chance of some info on how to dive this? Did you use a rhib?
Gogs,
Any chance of some info on how to dive this? Did you use a rhib?
Yeah, you will have to do this by Rib. We launched from Anstruther (only because its the closest for us) and headed across from Fife.
The site is about 3-4 nm N/NE of Dunbar so you could guys over the west could tow your Rib there and launch it there, or from North Berwick as well.
There was article in the papers the other week about the identification of a sub off Eyemouth, in 60m. I think this was a H class sub, which might be a Yank sub?
i think that may have been the one gogs.
http://www.operationdeadlight.co.uk/chart.gif
just had a look over operation deadlight, makes for interesting reading.
I dont think there is one around Burntisland, there is one at Dunbar though.... Its a WW1 Minelaying U Boat, which is thought to be U-74
http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=74
I have dived it. It lies in about 42m (at LW).
this looks to be the easiest reached for a standard open circuit diver.
do any dive operators run boats out to it?
if anyone is going i would be interested.
been chatting about doing tri-mix, this threads makes me want to do it even more now.:D
this looks to be the easiest reached for a standard open circuit diver.
do any dive operators run boats out to it?
if anyone is going i would be interested.
been chatting about doing tri-mix, this threads makes me want to do it even more now.:D
They are well within the OC reach. We did it on twin 12's air.
The wreck itself is quite small so not a long bottom time is needed. We had a 18min max bottom time (leaving the bottom on or before 18mins), with a total dive time of about 44mins. 18 mins allowed us to get a couple of laps of the wreck and have a good mooch about. We had a trappese on the shot line to do deco: 3 mins at 9m and then 16 mins at 6m.
The only thing to watch out on is narcosis. Over stay your bottom time and the deco gets more and more.
hth
gogs
Dived this last Saturday, sitting upright in good condition, deck at 56m, fishing nets over the hull, crap vis, did 18mins, will be back soon to further explore further, taking hack saw next time for the deck gun!
first class dive shall be doing again in afew weeks time for further exploration around conning tower...........
Happy man at last
Ian
james/ian,
what are you guys diving?
tri-mix/rebreathers/air-nitrox?
i assume with 18 minutes bottom time, a rebreather with tri-mix?
first class dive shall be doing again in afew weeks time for further exploration around conning tower...........
Happy man at last
Ian
Let me know next time u r going ;)
It would be my third time lucky
alexmaclennan
20-08-06, 23:31
Chris the skipper of MV Diving Belle was telling us about using cutting gear underwater. He used an electric arc with O2 pipe and magnesium tip to trim steel rods on a harbourstep (could all be complete bullsh*t but very convincing). Once the arc was struck it fired up the O2/mag tip - a real thermic lance. He could easily cut through 1 inch steel rods - but only with eyes closed - you listen for the Ding (sic) of the rod falling off and onto concrete. But I guess its a bit far down to wear the Marigold gloves and pull the electric/O2 cables and the earthing clamp..........so maybe stick with the hacksaw.
alex
It's true, I used that type of equipment when I was in commercial diving. The stick or (Broco rod) is hollow to allow the O2 through. You have to take care to ensure that the arc is always sparking, especially in enclosed spaces otherwise the build up of O2 can cause a wee explosion. I saw a diver blow his faceplate, thankfully he was ok, his suit was a mess though.
first class dive shall be doing again in afew weeks time for further exploration around conning tower...........
Happy man at last
Ian
Would love to get some pictures of the wreck poss need 1-2 second exposures as the viz at 60m in the clyde is not to good. ;)