While laying a high-voltage line off the Scottish coast, experts discovered a submarine from the First World War, whose death is shrouded in legends.
Energy company Scottish Power is implementing a more than £ 1bn (€ 1.1bn) submarine power cable project that will connect Scotland and England. At one of the sites, sonar recorded an object on the seabed; Having studied it more closely, experts identified it as a sunken submarine.
The vessel still remains under water, so it has not been identified for sure, however, for all visible technical parameters, as well as taking into account the historical events that took place in this water area, experts speak with a high degree of confidence about the German submarine UB-85. It was built on the UB III type in 1916-1917 in Bremen, after which it entered service with the German Navy.
The UB-85 carried an 8.8 cm deck gun and 10 torpedoes; the crew consisted of 31 sailors and 3 officers. The boat sank in 1918 under unclear circumstances. It is known that on April 28-29, British warships did not allow UB-85 to float to the surface (which must be done to ventilate and recharge the batteries). Having risen on April 30, the ship was trapped and fired upon by the enemy.
But the further development of events is still a mystery. The artillery fire did not cause significant damage to the boat, and she tried to escape from the battlefield. Despite the pursuit, however, UB-85 suddenly stopped and fired a signal flare, while the crew waved their hands for help. The sailors were captured by the British, and the boat sank. Explaining such a strange tactic of avoiding the pursuit, the captain said that the ship was attacked by a "sea monster with huge eyes and teeth." The crew tried to shoot back, but a mysterious creature damaged the hatch in the sub's wheelhouse, which broke the seal.
Experts note that in total, at least 12 submarines sank in the Irish Sea, but the design features of the recent find unambiguously attribute it to the UB III type, which greatly narrows the range of assumptions. In the near future it is planned to start work on lifting and researching the sunken ship; in addition to the name, it will also allow you to establish the reason for its sinking.