german submarine german submarine type boat nazi_germany kriegsmarine world war keel laid august commissioned june command saw action world war conducted patrols sinking ships totalling tons final patrol sent harass united_states coastal shipping destroyed uss eagle boat near portland maine days germany surrender torpedoed sank battle point american warships quickly found sank nmi east rhode_island resulting loss entire crew popular deep sea diving site rests feet water holes hull permit access interior submarine war grave crew bodies remaining inside design submarines slightly larger original type displacement tonnes long tons surface tonnes long tons submerged boat total length pressure hull length beam height draught submarine powered man stroke cylinder diesel engines producing total metric horsepower shp use surfaced double acting electric motors producing total shaft horsepower use submerged shafts propellers boat capable operating depths metres submarine maximum surface speed knots mph maximum submerged speed knots mph submerged boat operate nautical miles knots mph surfaced travel nautical miles knots mph fitted torpedo tubes fitted bow stern torpedoes naval gun rounds anti aircraft gun boat complement service history built ordered june keel laid august commissioned june germans nicknamed boat der walker crew painted emblem yellow shield red horse sail patrol patrol june assigned weather watching duty command war patrol german intelligence believed weather conditions atlantic help predict timing allied invasion europe spotted loaded american troops supplies boat submerged attack larger faster ship surfaced queen mary wake attacked aircraft british merchant aircraft carriers boat took significant damage returned fire hitting aircraft planes able return carrier recovery deemed total loss escort carrier hunting weather boats nearly month sunk intercepted radio led destroyers search proved elusive crew nicknamed prey dick days hunting june high frequency direction finding picked weather report nautical miles away minutes fighters submarine killing men wounding suffered bullet wounds managed order likelihood saved submarine destroyed allied bombers weeks pursuit june placed enormous strain crew year old took command boat june command returned large number crew declared unfit duty july formally relieved second patrol boat remained port august decorated veteran commander 10th boat flotilla took command second patrol operated time western approaches british isles period seven weeks scored successes completion return continued arriving october assumed command 33rd boat flotilla arriving relinquished command took boat final patrol departure fitted retractable air intake exhaust allowed ship remain submerged running diesel engines reduced need spend dangerous periods surface batteries patrol february germany sent war patrol harass coastal shipping command sink targets weeks patrol crossing atlantic slow remain submerged avoid spotted allied aircraft april ordered april fatally torpedoed uss eagle boat near portland maine day contact attacked failed destroy world war era patrol boat targets united_states navy dive bomber training exercise nautical miles exploded amidships sank crew survived survivors claimed seen submarine sail yellow red insignia navy inquiry attributed sinking boiler explosion navy reversed findings acknowledge sinking hostile fire awarded purple hearts survivors deceased president nazi germany ordered boats cease offensive operations return bases lying wait rhode_island time according receive order likely ignored soon torpedo blew stern foot underway new_york boston minutes sunk feet water nautical miles south point merchant ship lost world war men died crew members rescued rescuing ships yugoslav freighter sent report authorities navy organized hunter killer group included american warships group discovered dropped depth charges hour attack boat attempted flee tried hide lying times found morning class new_jersey joined attack locating oil marking suspected locations smoke markers attacked inch rocket bombs numerous depth charge attacks resulted life chart clothing officer cap floating surface loss officers men boats sunk world war sunk waters received credit kill legacy body recovered interred newport rhode_island submarine propellers display years inn castle hill newport custody war college museum newport naval station uss transferred japan served japanese maritime self defense force returned united_states given philippines served recently interest expressed returning united_states restored world war appearance opened public wreck lies nautical miles east feet water location wreck sits upright rising depth feet crew member bodies remain hull war grave popular dive sites hull depth charge blast holes forward conning tower radio room starboard engine room entering wreck dangerous debris sharp metal edges confined spaces navy divers attempted enter wreck recover captain safe papers failed recreational divers visited site recreational brought body wreck provoked navy clergy petition government restrictions disturbing dead german buried military honors newport rhode_island recreational divers died exploring wreckage renowned deep sea perished filming boat surfaced unconscious revived age died result drowning associated poor health according office report boston_globe news site cites having retrieved numerous items wreck including accounts personnel ship commander naval action led sinking personnel ship commander summary raiding history armament weaponry mounted single gun mount mount common mount marine version kriegsmarine type vii type boats mounted mount short folding shield upper mount number
German submarine U-853