Hi Jim

Thomsen in UB 115 cruised off the Tyne, then moved up the Northumberland coast, reaching Newbiggin-by-the-Sea by 29 September 1918. Here, the crew must have been experiencing some problems with the tanks, because as she lay submerged, 4.5-miles offshore, the crew of the British airship R29, fortuitously engaged on convoy protection duties nearby, observed oil bubbling to the surface. The convoy system had just been introduced to east coast convoys the previous month, but the use of airships in convoy defence was an even more recent innovation. The East Fortune based R29, proved her worth. The suspicious oil slick was reported and two 230lb bombs and a calcium flare were released over the position. The destroyer HMS OUSE raced to the scene and was soon joined by the 1896 vintage destroyer HMS STAR. The two warships then dropped seven depth charges, set at 50, 100 and 200 feet respectively. Three RN trawlers also joined in and ten more depth charges were dropped. The Royal Navy vessels were fitted with hydrophones and heard the U-boat start her engines at 1400hrs, resulting in a further twelve depth charges sent down. An hour later the engine noises were heard again, resulting in two more depth charges being dropped. From 1600hrs the sound became intermittent but continued until 1825hrs, by which time it was assumed the U-boat crew must have been, mercifully, dead. Oil poured up to the surface continually all night and for the following two days and minesweepers reported an obstruction was the source of the oil. UB 115 was lost with her entire crew of thirty-nine.

The airship did not actually sink the U-boat, but was responsible for her demise

Cheers Ron