Questions and mystery surround the famous wreck of the German u-853, which lies just seven miles east of Clay Head, located on Rhode Island’s Block Island. Chief among these questions is whether the captain missed the Hamburg radio announcement that Hitler was dead, and that Germany’s surrender was imminent. On May 4, 1945, Germany’s Grand Admiral Doenitz had taken over as Der Fuehrer, and had ordered all U-boats to cease fire.
Today, U-853, which was nicknamed “Tightrope Walker” by her crew, is still mostly intact, and is an underwater grave site. Her entire crew perished when she met her demise, and although a crew member brought up in 1960 was buried with honors in Newport Rhode Island, the majority of her crew still rest inside her hull.
The Tragedy
U-853 was undertaking her last orders, which were to disrupt United States shipping, and did not get the message that she was to return home. On May 5th of 1945, U-853 torpedoed the Black Point, which sank, taking 12 of her crew with her. The United States Navy located U-853 and depth charged her. Pieces of debris, including the Captain’s hat, floated to the surface. Further investigation proved this “evidence” of sinking to be a hoax, and the Navy continued to pursue U-853 until finally catching up with her and sinking her the following day.
On May 6th, the Navy dispatched divers from the Penguin, in hopes of retrieving records from the Captain’s safe. These divers were using surface-supplied air, and with their bulky equipment, had difficulty penetrating the wreck. On May 7th, 1945, a diver named Ed Bockelman, who was the slimmest of the Penguin’s divers, accompanied by Navy Commander named George Albin, squeezed through the hatch of the conning tower. He encountered nothing but German dead. Their bodies blocked him from penetrating the wreck further.
Diving the U-853
U-853 was built in 1942 and commissioned on June 25, 1943. She was just over 251 feet long, and over 22 feet wide. Holes in the hull do permit penetration, however, it is important to remember that the deceased German sailors rest here and their remains are still visible. In addition to the crew that went down with her, the Tightrope Walker has claimed the lives of divers. Most notable was Stephen Hardick, who was sixty years old, perished while filming U-853 in 2005. He was brought to the surface and could not be revived. The Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s Office declared his death was the result of saltwater drowning combined with other health issues.
This fascinating wreck lies intact and upright in 125 feet of water. Her periscope is accessible at 100 feet, and her deck at 110; visibility in the area is normally fair, at ten to thirty-five feet. Penetration is ill-advised, since the blast holes at the radio room, which is just forward of the conning tower, and in the starboard side of the engine room, have sharp jagged metal edges and the wreck is a maze of confined spaces. Look through the holes to see what remains of the engine room and radio room, and swim along the sides to see the riveted hull and peer down the torpedo loading hatch.
There are mooring lines on the wreck, but be sure to check them, as they do deteriorate. In addition to the remains of the sailors, some of which are visible from outside the wreck, there are plenty of large sea anemones and a variety of fish in and around the wreck.
Professional recovery efforts have brought some interesting artifacts to the surface: silverware and dishes bearing the crest of the Third Reich, as well as some personal effects, have been found in the area around the hull of the U-853. These are reminders of the lives lost, and loved ones left behind in this underwater tomb – and a reminder of the tragedies of war.