Operation Deadlight Expedition 2001

DAY SIX: - 19th July 2001

Target: U1014 VIIC/41
Depth: 69 metres
Weather and sea conditions: Sunny - 2-3E - 20 metres underwater visibility

Diving report:
Gales prevented us leaving Portrush harbour for most of the day. However, the weather dramatically improved in the afternoon, so the team was able to make a dive on the wreck of U1014, which was sunk in 1945 by an escort group off Portrush.

This submarine wreck is extremely badly damaged. It was hit by depth charges must have died in three places, reducing the submarine to a useless hulk. It is clear that the crew, mercifully must have died quickly.

The blast holes are in the forward torpedo room, the area around the captains bunk/sound/radio rooms and aft of the winter garden. The damage amidships is so bad, that little of the conning tower remains. The hydraulic elevator for the schnorchel is now sitting where the captain would have slept. Only the 'Atlantic' bow and the stern remain undamaged.

This wreck is heavily populated with lobsters and conger eels.

Comments:
Yesterday afternoon was spent in the company of BBC Television who intervied the divers and prepared to release a news story for 5-6pm tonight. The story lasted 2.5 minutes and showed the footage of U2511 along with the background to the expedition.

Tomorrow and Saturday are changeover days when some divers leave the expedition and others join.

Hopefully, weather dependent, the next expedition diary will appear on Sunday. We intend to head back to the area were we expect to find U155 and possibly U2506.

Many many thanks to my friend Axel Niestle for his analysis of the dive we conducted on Day 3. It is heartening to know that our discoveries can lead to the identification of an unknown submarine loss. This has happened several times over the years and is the greatest reward we as diver can have from our endeavors.

Operation Deadlight Expedition 2001

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