Full Breakdown
German WWII U-boat U-672 Identified off Devon After Eight Decades
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Discovery and Identification
In the summer of 2022 divers exploring the seabed off the Devon coast located a wreck lying about 230 ft (70 m) beneath the surface, roughly 20 miles from Salcombe. The following month the Gasperados dive team confirmed the vessel as German submarine U-672, a U-boat that vanished during World War II. Identification hinged on distinctive features such as a steel propeller, an early Schnorchel (snorkel) system and remnants of the German “Aphrodite” radar-decoy equipment, which matched known specifications for U-672.
Historical Context and Misplacement
U-672 was attacked by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Balfour in July 1944. After being hit, the crew scuttled the submarine and survived, later being rescued by British forces. The wreck remained undiscovered for more than 80 years because naval records listed the sinking location roughly 46 miles away from the actual site, a clerical error that misdirected earlier searches. Historian Dr Axel Niestle noted that the erroneous coordinates kept the wreck hidden until the recent dive.
Key Figures and Technical Details
Dominic Robinson, a diver with the Gasperados team, led the identification effort and highlighted the importance of the snorkel as a decisive clue. The submarine’s commander, Kapitänleutnant Ulf Lawaetz, had ordered the ballast tanks blown to bring the vessel to the surface, giving his crew a final chance of survival. The wreck also displayed the early Schnorchel system and parts of the Aphrodite radar-decoy, illustrating the technological adaptations German U-boats employed late in the war.
Official Reactions
The family of Kapitänleutnant Lawaetz contacted the divers after the identification and expressed satisfaction that the wreck had finally been located after 82 years. They presented a small numbered tag that Lawaetz had kept throughout his life as a personal memento. The Gasperados team described the find as “fantastic,” emphasizing how few WWII submarine mysteries remain unresolved.
Data Summary
- Depth of wreck: ~230 ft (70 m)
- Distance from shore: ~20 miles off Salcombe, Devon
- Year of sinking: July 1944
- Crew size at time of attack: 52 men (all survived)
- Time elapsed before identification: 82 years
The discovery resolves a long-standing gap in the record of German U-boat losses in the English Channel and adds a rare, well-documented case to the catalog of wartime wrecks.