Wrecks on the Seabed R2: Assessing Evaluating and Recording (U86)

Wessex Archaeology, 2012. https://doi.org/10.5284/1017438. How to cite using this DOI

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Wessex Archaeology (2012) Wrecks on the Seabed R2: Assessing Evaluating and Recording (U86) [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017438

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Digital Object Identifiers

Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) are persistent identifiers which can be used to consistently and accurately reference digital objects and/or content. The DOIs provide a way for the ADS resources to be cited in a similar fashion to traditional scholarly materials. More information on DOIs at the ADS can be found on our help page.

Citing this DOI

The updated Crossref DOI Display guidelines recommend that DOIs should be displayed in the following format:

https://doi.org/10.5284/1017438
Sample Citation for this DOI

Wessex Archaeology (2012) Wrecks on the Seabed R2: Assessing Evaluating and Recording (U86) [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017438

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Introduction

The project comprised the development and testing of a number of methodologies for the rapid assessment, evaluation and recording of wreck sites. The main aim of the project was to provide industry, regulators and contractors with a framework for the incremental, decision-oriented investigation of wreck sites and with guidance on their archaeological assessment, evaluation and recording. The objectives were:

  • Develop and refine methodologies for assessing, evaluating and recording sites in deeper water.
  • Assess the effectiveness of undertaking archaeological recording using remote operated vehicle (ROV) and geophysical techniques only.
  • Assess environmental issues (e.g. depth, distance from port, fetch) in respect of working on sites in deeper water.
  • Assess infrastructure issues (e.g. anchoring, tow cable handling, umbilical handling) in respect of working on sites in deeper water.

Year two of Round two of the Wrecks on the Seabed project comprised deep water ROV survey of three wrecks. This dataset relates to the third of these wrecks, a First World War German u-boat - U86 - and comprises databases relating to the Wessex Archaeology DIVA dive recording system, GIS shapefiles for the tracklogs of the ROV and video stills from the survey.

First World War German U-boat - U86

Wreck WA 1003 (initially identified on geophysics data) is a submarine or u-boat. The vessel is between 58m and 70m long and has a beam of c. 6.5m. The exact length is difficult to determine due to damage to the bow and stern. It stands 3m proud of the seabed, but is partly buried.

The submarine is armed with four torpedo tubes, two bow tubes and two stern tubes. Two deck guns, consistent with guns used on German u-boats during the First World War are visible. No evidence of mine launching chutes could be found.

The size of the vessel, the absence of mine launching equipment and the general layout suggest that wreck WA 1003 is the wreck of an oceangoing German attack u-boat from the First World War.

As a construction and general layout plan of U-63 to U-65 was available during the ROV survey, features observed on the seabed could be compared to this plan. Apart from a number of details on the conning tower, all fittings and machinery were consistent with the plan. It could thus be concluded that the u-boat was of the so called 'Ms', or Mobilmachungs (mobilisation) type.

Ms boats were built by a number of different shipyards and were constantly improved. This led to a variety of subtypes, all with slight variations. Each subtype was named after the first boat built to the specification.

Further study showed that the wreck was consistent with the subtype U-81. This type of u-boat was built at the Germania Werft in Kiel between 1915 and 1916. There were six boats in the U-81 type: U-81 to U-86. Four of them were sunk during the war around Ireland or in the Atlantic. One boat was broken up (uboat.net).

Only U-86 is stated to have sunk or been sunk in the Channel after having been used by the British Navy in 1921. Wreck WA 1003 has therefore been identified as the German Ms-type u-boat U-86.

Wessex Archaeology carried out multibeam sonar, magnetometer and sidescan sonar surveys on the site in 2005. More information on this can be found in the Wrecks on the Seabed archive. The geophysical survey data archived through the MEDIN Data Archive Centres (British Geological Survey and United Kingdom Hydrographic Office).

British Geological Survey archive ref: BGS_CMD_REF653

Other Archives from Wrecks on the Seabed Round 2

Wrecks on the Seabed R2: Assessing Evaluating and Recording (Liberator)
Wrecks on the Seabed R2: Assessing Evaluating and Recording (Unknown)


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