Operation Deadlight

Operation Deadlight was a military operation by the British Royal Navy and the Polish Navy to immerse handed German U- boats after the end of World War II in Europe.

History

After the capitulation of the German Empire until the end of 1945 roadworthy German U- boats were demunitioniert and transferred to the Scottish Loch Ryan ports and Loch Eriboll and Moville and Lisahally in Londonderry in Northern Ireland ( about 155 U- boats).

Some boats were taken over by the victors (about 40 U- boats), all other German U- boats ( about 115 submarines) were during Operation Deadlight by British submarines ( Tantivy, Templar ), tugs ( Bustler, Emolous, Enchanter, Enforcer, Fowey, Freedom, Masterful, Prosperous, Saucy ), escort destroyers ( Blencathra, Mendip, Pytchley, Quantock, Southdown, Zetland ) and frigates ( Cawsand Bay, Camsand Bay, Cosby, Cubitt, Loch Arkaig, Loch Shin, Rupert ) dragged into the target areas to Malin Head, Bloody Foreland and Tory Iceland and sunk there. Several U- boats were due to heavy seas or cracked tow lines already lost along the way.

In the target area the boats were mainly from the British destroyers HMS Obedient, HMS Offa, HMS Onslaught HMS Onslow, HMS Orwell, HMS Solebay, HMS Zealous and the Polish destroyers ORP Blyskawica, ORP Garland, ORP Krakowiak and ORP Piorun by naval artillery and by aircraft the Royal Air Force sunk.

The sinking action began on Tuesday, November 27, 1945 and ended on February 12, 1946 by 10 clock with the sinking of U- 3514th

The sinking locations of submarines were already dived several times.

Elevation

There are plans to raise the boats, at least partially. The main reason is to obtain non-magnetic steel.