German U-boat found 82 years after Royal Navy attack off Devon

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 09:20 · Archive

A German U-boat sunk by HMS Balfour in July 1944 has been discovered off the Devon coast after a clerical error concealed its location for decades.

The German U-boat U-672 has been discovered off the Devon coast, 82 years after being attacked by the Royal Navy. The vessel was struck by HMS Balfour in July 1944, forcing its 52 crew to scuttle it and evacuate. The submarine sank to a depth of about 230ft (70m) roughly 20 miles off Salcombe.

The wreck remained hidden for over eight decades due to a clerical error in Navy documents. According to historian Dr Axel Niestle, the recorded position was 46 miles from where the submarine actually sank, preventing the location being found. A dive team from Portland called Gasperados identified the U-672 in August after discovering it during exploration.

Diver Dominic Robinson said identifying the vessel was aided by distinctive features including the snorkel, conning tower, the Schnorchel system and German Aphrodite radar decoy equipment. After HMS Balfour's attack, the U-boat began taking on water. The crew managed to bring it to the surface before abandoning ship in life rafts. The survivors were rescued the following day by British aircraft and vessels and taken to a prisoner of war camp.

German U-boat found 82 years after Royal Navy attack off Devon — Image: The Mirror

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How it is being reported

German U-boat found off Devon coast 82 years after going missing during WW2A German U-boat attacked by the Royal Navy during World War Two has been discovered decades after a clerical error sent searches 46 nautical miles off courseThe Mirror · 22 Oct, 09:01
Missing WW2 U-boat found 82 years after being struck by Royal NavyThe vessel was attacked by HMS Balfour in July 1944.Daily Express · 22 Oct, 08:12

In this story: U-672 · HMS Balfour · Gasperados · Devon · Salcombe · Dominic Robinson

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