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Lore of sunken pirate ships runs up and down the East Coast of the US, from New England to the pirates of Florida. Metal detector enthusiasts come out in droves during the summer months to get their hands on a piece of history. But for researcher Erik Petkovic and his colleagues, their latest discovery was more than just a sunken wooden vessel shipwrecked by the storms of chance--it was a World War I era German U-Boat submersible that was purposefully hidden away by the American government for a century.
So what makes this discovery so important? And what does this mean for historical researchers and even enthusiastic tourists? Here's what we know so far about the compelling World War I artifact hidden 400 feet below the sea.
Why Is This Discovery So Significant?
German U-Boats, or "iron coffin" submarines, were used doing World War I and II to mount maritime sneak attacks against Allied Forces. Though they were prolific during both wars, only four World War I boats are intact today, and Petkovic's discovery of this U-Boat, called U-111, is only the fifth to be located in US waters. U-111's location was particularly elusive; the ship was captured in 1918 at the end of World War I. It was then one of a handful of U-Boats allocated to the US military by the British for a technological survey and educational study. The British had one condition: the U-Boats were to be purposefully sunk and disposed of after study was complete. U-111's location, in particular, was a well-guarded secret and the only real "unknown" location among the other scuttled German subs.
So in 1922, U-111 was towed to Virginia from New York City, where it unceremoniously sank before it could be properly scuttled. Salvaging it, not once, but twice, the U-Boat was eventually pulled out to an undisclosed location at sea, where the US Navy deliberately sank the submarine. Using a remotely-operated underwater vehicle (aka ROV), Petkovic and team discovered the wreck of U-111 after 100 years of mystery. The wreckage lies approximately 40 miles off the coast of Virginia at a depth of 400 feet.
A Puzzle Piece Of History Put In Place
U-Boat researchers had assumed that the ship was far too out of reach to ever be discovered. The US Navy had reported that the ship had been sunk to a depth of 1,600 feet, which would make it far too deep to find or access. However, Petkovic, and other researchers, were surprised to make this discovery at a mere 400 feet. However, that was a stroke of luck and fate; if the U-Boat had been sunk just a mile toward the east, it would have fallen into a literal abyss from which it would not be recoverable.
Piecing together the location from a combination of historical documents, including the log books of the ship that towed U-111, Petkovic was able to disprove the US Navy's original claims that the vessel rested somewhere near 1,600 feet. Maritime historian, Aaron Hamilton, noted to National Geographic that this discovery is a significant achievement for the advancement of submarine technology and wreck finding, particularly praising the ability to photograph and study this wreckage for future research.
So...When Can We Visit It?
Long story short: not very soon. Petkovic and his team have years of research ahead of them, including in-person dives at the wreck site. But that can prove risky as diving technology is barely at the point where making a dive in these conditions is viable. Researchers are optimistic, though, that they can make a dive in the Summer of 2023. The latest rebreather diving gear does allow divers to reach the depths that U-111 rests, and the air recycling rate allows divers to stay down longer, but it's still risky business that needs to be executed carefully.
For the time being, however, there's a visitable U-Boat that's not terribly far away. U-505, a vessel captured by American forces during World War II, is on display at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. During U-505's capture by the USS Chatelain in 1944, American Navy intelligence recovered numerous German code books and charts that were vital in breaking the Nazi's Enigma Code, a process and discovery made popularly known by the film "The Imitation Game."
The Museum of Science and Industry has built an excellent exhibit around U-505, crafting an immersive experience where you can explore the submarine technology of the time, learn about life on the submarine, and listen to stories of keeping the U-Boat concealed and hidden by Allied enemies. The exhibition is included in your museum entry and is great for all ages. In 1922, tourists flocked to New York City to see U-111 before it was sent to its watery grave off the coast of Virginia. Perhaps one day, tourists can flock to it again.