U-40 the sunk German submarine (WWI)

 First World War 1914-1918, shipwreck, submarine

The U-40 (WWI) was incorporated on April, 3rd, 1913 at the shipyard "Germaniawerft", in the city of Kiel and first set afloat on October, 22nd, 1914. The impressive submarine was constructed under the model of The U-31. It bore 6 torpedo devices and one 105-millimetric gun. The submarine weighed 971 tons and was 64.7 metres long, 6.32 wide and 7.68 metres tall. The U-40 could accelerate at a speed up to 16 units on the surface and 10 units when submerged.

On June, 23rd, 1915, The British submarine C-24 was hidden under a trawler-bait called "Taranaki". On a signal the submarine submerged, preparing to attack The U-40. There were 32 people onboard the German submarine, and only 3 survived, all from the cabin of management - commander Gerhard Fyurbringer and two more. The other 29 people were lost.

The captain of submarine С-24, Frederik Henry Taylor, was awarded the Cross of Excellent Service.

The sunk vessel is in a good condition and lays 64 metres in depth in 64 kms from coast. The fodder part of a vessel is strongly damaged by the British torpedo. Other parts of a submarine were perfectly preserved. Even the lens in a periscope lifted for attack, is still whole. The 64-meter U-40 is rather remarkable, in fact boats of this class were the first submarines which could bear a plane on a deck.

Source : divemir.com/2009/03/u-40/