The U-853 German Submarine Shipwreck
New York and New Jersey's Wreck Valley
Historical and current New York and New Jersey Shipwreck Information and images for scuba
divers and fisherman.
U-853, which had been nick named by her crew Der Seiltaenzer Tightrope Walker, was a type IXC German U-Boat. Commissioned on June
25, 1943, she was 251.9 feet long, 22.5 feet wide and displaced 740 tons.
On May 1, 1945, Hamburg radio announced that Adolf Hitler was dead. Grand
Admiral Doenitz took over as Der Fuehrer and immediately began to arrange a
surrender. On May 4, 1945, with WW II quickly coming to an end, Admiral Karl
Doenitz gave the following order All U-boats cease fire at once. Stop
all hostile action against allied shipping. Doenitz. We are not sure
if the U-853 received Donitz's transmission or simply refused to obey his orders.
US naval experts at the time considered U-boat captains to be among the most
fanatical members of the German military and predicted that some would continue
to fight despite Doenitz's order.
On May 5, the U-853, which had been prowling the waters northeast of Block
Island, torpedoed and sank the coiler Black Point, killing twelve men. Two
minutes later, the SS Kamen, a Yugoslav freighter, radioed word of the sinking.
Within an hour, the U.S. Navy Taskforce, which was in the area, began hunting
the 853. The Atherton found her within three hours and the attack began. The Navy
used Hedgehogs (rocket launched projectiles), depth charges, three ships and two
blimps. After an assault with depth charges, various bits of debris floated to
the surface including a pillow, a life jacket and the U-boat's captain's hat.
This was only a trick as the Navy's sonar then caught the sub moving east. Again
and again, resulting in a cat and mouse type game to the death, the Navy's sonar
would locate theU-boat and the attacks would resume. The first attack started at
8:29 PM. The Navy continued its assault until 10:45 AM the next day. The U-853
was declared officially dead. The Navy vessels headed for port with brooms at
masthead, the Navy's symbol for a clean sweep.
On May 6, 1945, Navy divers from the vessel Penguin dove on the 853 and attempted
to penetrate the wreck in order to recover records from the captain's safe. These
divers were using surface supplied air and couldn't easily fit through the tight
hatches of the submarine. The next day, Ed Bockelman, the smallest diver on the
Penguin, volunteered himself for the task. He was accompanied by Commander George
Albin. Bockelman was able to squeeze through the conning towers hatch, but
the floating lifeless bodies of German crewmen blocked further penetration.
For years after her sinking, rumors spread that the U-853 had a cargo of treasure
on board. One story claimed that$500,000 in jewels and U.S. currency were hidden
in 88 MM shell cases, sealed in wax. Another rumor was that there was $1,000,000
in hidden mercury on board, sealed in stainless steel flasks. These rumors have
spurred many salvage attempts over the years, none of which, to the best of my
knowledge, have been successful. Who knows, maybe a sport diver will get lucky.
torpedo hatch. Looking deep inside the U-853. Photos by Bill Campbell
Today, the U-853 sits in 130 feet of water off Block Island. She is sitting
upright and intact on a sand bottom. Penetration of the wreck is possible but
should only be attempted by experienced wreck divers.
Photos: Capt. Steve Bielenda with artifacts from the U-853. Photo by Dan
Diver Russ Lesterman
recovered these tags while diving off the charter boat Sea Turtle.
Side scan sonar image of the U-853 courtesy Mark Munro, American
Underwater Search and Survey.
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