View source for SM UB-65

{{Other ships|German submarine U-65}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= 
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[German Empire]]
|Ship flag={{Shipboxflag|German Empire|naval}}
|Ship name=''UB-65''
|Ship ordered=20 May 1916{{sfn|Rössler|1979|p=60}}
|Ship builder= [[AG Vulcan Stettin|Vulkan Werke]], [[Hamburg]]
|Ship yard number=90
|Ship laid down= 
|Ship original costs=3,279,000 [[German Papiermark]] 
|Ship launched=26 June 1917{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=25-30}}
|Ship commissioned=18 August 1917{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=25-30}}
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship struck=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship fate= Lost to unknown cause off [[Padstow]], [[Cornwall]] after 14 July 1918.<ref name="Innes McCartney 2015 119–123">{{cite book |author=Innes McCartney |author-link=Innes McCartney |year=2015 |title=The Maritime Archaeology of a Modern Conflict: Comparing the Archaeology of German Submarine Wrecks to the Historical Text |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |pages=119–123 |isbn=978-1138814356 }}</ref>
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption={{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=25-30}}
|Ship class=[[Type UB III submarine]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|508|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|639|t|LT|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length={{convert|55.52|m|ftin|abbr=on}} ([[o/a]]) 
|Ship beam={{convert|5.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|3.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*2 × [[propeller shaft (ship)|propeller shaft]]
*2 × [[MAN SE|MAN]] four-stroke 6-cylinder [[diesel engine]]s, {{convert|780|kW|bhp|abbr=on|order=flip|lk=in}}
*2 × [[Siemens-Schuckert]] [[Motor-generator|electric motor]]s, {{convert|580|kW|shp|order=flip|abbr=on|lk=in}}
|Ship speed=*{{convert|13.3|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
*{{convert|8|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=*{{convert|8420|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|6|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|55|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged
|Ship test depth={{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=3 officers, 31 men{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=25-30}}
|Ship armament=*5 × [[torpedo tube]]s (4 bow, 1 stern)
*10 × [[torpedo]]es
*1 × [[8.8&nbsp;cm SK L/30 naval gun|{{Convert|8.8|cm|in|2|abbr=on}} deck gun]]
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label=Service record
|partof=*V Flotilla
*30 September 1917 – 18 April 1918
*II Flotilla
*18 April – 14 July 1918
|codes= 
|commanders=*''Kptlt.'' Martin Schelle<ref>{{cite Uboat.net
|id=290
|name=Martin Schelle
|type=1comm
|accessdate=4 February 2015
}}</ref>
*18 August 1917 – 14 July 1918
|operations=6 patrols
|victories=*6 merchant ships sunk <br>({{GRT|6,197}})
*1 warship sunk <br>(1,290 tons)
*6 merchant ships damaged <br>({{GRT|11,443}})
}}
|}

'''SM ''UB-65''''' was a [[Type UB III submarine|Type UB III]] [[U-boat]] of the [[Imperial German Navy]] during [[World War I]]. Ordered on 20 May 1916, the U-boat was built at the [[AG Vulcan Stettin|Vulkan Werke]] shipyard in [[Hamburg]], [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 26 June 1917, and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 18 August 1917, under the command of ''[[Kapitänleutnant]]'' Martin Schelle.<ref name="UB+65">{{cite Uboat.net
|id=UB+65
|name=UB 65
|type=1sub
|accessdate=29 September 2010
}}</ref>

==Service history==
During her active career she sailed on six war patrols, sinking six merchant ships and damaging six more. She also sank the British {{sclass|Anchusa|sloop|1}} {{HMS|Arbutus|1917|6}}.<ref name="UB+65"/>

The U-boat was lost off [[Padstow]], [[Cornwall]] on or after 14 July 1918 with the loss of all her 37 crew.<ref name="UB+65"/>

==Rediscovery==
An expedition mounted in 2004 as part of the [[Channel 4]] ''[[Wreck Detectives]]'' underwater [[archaeological]] TV series to survey a previously unidentified U-boat [[Shipwreck|wreck]] that had been located earlier at 
{{Coord|50.611|-5.005|display=inline, title|region:GB_scale:1000000}}, during a routine survey by the [[Royal Navy]], confirmed the identity of the boat as ''UB-65''. Inspection of the wreck by nautical archaeologist [[Innes McCartney]] and U-boat historian Dr. Axel Niestlé (through identification of design features such as the type of deck gun, and identification numbers that were stamped on one of her propellers) proved conclusively that the wreck was that of ''UB-65''.  A survey of the wreck showed no obvious indication of weapon attack being the cause of loss (although this could not be ruled out; damage assessment expert David Manley determined that shock damage from a depth charge attack could have caused loss through failure of internal seawater systems and hull penetrations that would not be obvious from an external examination). The aft hatches were open, indicating a possible attempt by at least some of the crew to escape from the vessel. Consideration of the various observations of the wreck, along with historical observations regarding depth control and handling difficulties on diving experienced by other boats of the class, led to a conclusion that she was most likely lost through accidental causes on or after 14 July 1918, the date of the sinking of a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] vessel in the [[Padstow]] area. All of her crew of 37 were listed as lost.<ref name="Innes McCartney 2015 119–123">{{cite book |author=Innes McCartney |author-link=Innes McCartney |year=2015 |title=The Maritime Archaeology of a Modern Conflict: Comparing the Archaeology of German Submarine Wrecks to the Historical Text |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |pages=119–123 |isbn=978-1138814356 }}</ref> Having been identified as ''UB-65'' the wreck was given ''protected place'' status under the [[Protection of Military Remains Act 1986]] on 1 November 2006.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url= http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/2616/introduction/made
 |title=The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2006
 |work=legislation.gov.uk
|access-date=29 September 2010
}}</ref>

==Previous beliefs regarding loss==
The identification of the Padstow U-boat wreck corrected the earlier accepted version of ''UB-65's'' loss. According to official German Naval records the boat was presumed lost following a premature explosion of one of her own torpedoes on 10 July 1918, south of the Irish coast.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=25-30}}

According to [[United States Navy]] records it was reported that, whilst returning from patrol and near [[Fastnet Rock]], the U.S. submarine {{USS|L-2|SS-41|2}} observed what the captain [[Paul Frederick Foster|Paul F. Foster]] first took to be a buoy on the horizon. Moving closer, Captain Foster found that it was actually a German submarine, only later to be identified as ''UB-65''. It was listing heavily on the water's surface, seemingly disabled. Forster guided his sub around it, hoping to line up a torpedo shot. But before he could do so, the crippled vessel was torn apart by a huge explosion. ''UB-65'' rose up on its bows and sank. There were no survivors and no bodies were ever recovered. The sound of small propellers and an underwater signalling device could be heard for a short while after the explosion. The cause of the explosion was not known.

<blockquote>
RECORD ITEM Y1022 ROLL ONI ROLL<br />PG 61825 58 TA-17-D

Admiralstab der Marine, Abt. A, KTB, Band 1, U.B.65 der V.U.Flottille und der II. U. Flottille.

Kommandant: Kaptlt. Schelle.<br />
U.B.65 conducted operations in the [[Irish Sea]], the western [[Hebrides]], and [[St George's Channel]].<br />
U.B.65 sank among other vessels an unidentified British armed vessel (probably the sloop {{HMS|Arbutus|1917|6}}) on 15 December 1917; the Norwegian steamer "Havana" (1,150 t), 5 March 1918; and the British steamer "Pensilva" (4,316 t), 4 May 1918.<br />
U.B.65 departed from [[Heligoland]] 2 July 1918, for war operations and was accidentally sunk on 10 July 1918.<br /><br />
<sub>[[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives and Records Service]], U.S. [[General Services Administration]], Washington: 1984 </sub></blockquote>

== Allegations of haunting ==
UB-65 is the subject of many tales of a [[ghost]], said to be the second officer, Lieutenant Richter, who was killed when a [[torpedo]] exploded fairly early in the U-boat's career. Indeed, the building of the ship was plagued by disaster, including [[asphyxiation]] of three crew members by diesel fumes in the engine room and the crushing of two more by a falling [[girder]]. While ''UB-65'' was being tested for seaworthiness, one of the crew members was swept overboard when he was inspecting the hatches. He was never seen again. During the first test dive of ''UB-65'', a fracture occurred in a ballast tank, causing the submarine to sink to the bottom of the sea. The crew lacked any means of renewing the oxygen in the vessel, but after 12 hours the crew finally managed to raise the submarine to the surface of the ocean. These incidents may have given rise to a belief among the crew that the ship was [[curse]]d. As no one wanted to board or be stationed on the ship, it is believed that the [[Imperial German Navy|German Imperial Navy]] called a [[priest]] on board to [[exorcise]] the ship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://perdurabo10.tripod.com/ships/id172.html|title=Haunting of German Submarine U-65|last=Donahue|first=James|access-date=9 October 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nzghosts.co.nz/sea.htm UB-65 - A German submarine] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014201111/http://nzghosts.co.nz/sea.htm |date=14 October 2008 }}</ref><ref name="SSAF-pp384">{{cite book | title=Strange Stories, Amazing Facts| last=Digest| first=Reader's| year=1975| pages=384| publisher=Reader's Digest | chapter=Ghost on the prow }}</ref> In his book "Tales of Real Haunting", Tony Allan quotes "According to one source, the American officer thought he saw someone on deck just before ''UB-65'' went down. It was a figure in a German officer's overcoat, standing near the bow with folded arms. If this can be believed, Lieutenant Richter may have put in a final appearance".

According to researchers George Behe and Michael Goss, the stories about hauntings from ''UB-65'' were invented by the journalist [[Hector Charles Bywater]], who wrote about the subject. They speculated that Bywater was a good story teller who had invented some of his references, such as a post-war pamphlet written by a "Dr. Hecht". Behe and Goss concluded that "Official documents make it extremely difficult to believe that UB-65 was haunted... The responsibility for that rumor-like legend in all its dramatic detail cannot be traced back with any certainty before Hector C. Bywater."<ref>Behe, George; Goss, Michael. (2005). ''Lost at Sea: Ghost Ships and Other Mysteries''. Prometheus Books. pp. 152–166. {{ISBN|1-57866-147-1}}</ref>

==Summary of raiding history==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! width="140px"|Date
! width="180px"|Name
! width="160px"|Nationality
! width="25px" |Tonnage<ref group=Note name=tonnage>Merchant ship tonnages are in [[gross register tons]]. Military vessels are listed by tons [[displacement (ship)|displacement]].</ref>
! width="160px"|Fate<ref>{{cite Uboat.net
|id=ub65
|name=UB-65
|type=1boat
|accessdate=4 February 2015
}}</ref>
|-
|align="right"|31 October 1917
|align="left" |''Margrete''
|align="left" |{{flag|Denmark}}
|align="right"|1,277
|align="left" |Damaged
|-
|align="right"|12 December 1917
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in December 1917#12 December|''Bellville'']]
|align="left" |{{flag|Sweden}}
|align="right"|992
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|12 December 1917
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in December 1917#12 December|''Charleston'']]
|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|1,866
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|14 December 1917
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in December 1917#14 December|''Nor'']]
|align="left" |{{flag|Norway}}
|align="right"|1,418
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|16 December 1917
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in December 1917#16 December|HMS ''Arbutus'']]
|align="left" |{{navy|United Kingdom}}
|align="right"|1,290
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|2 March 1918
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in March 1918#2 March|''Havna'']]
|align="left" |{{flag|Norway}}
|align="right"|1,150
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|4 May 1918
|align="left" |''Pensilva''
|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|4,316
|align="left" |Damaged
|-
|align="right"|5 May 1918
|align="left" |''Pandora''
|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|85
|align="left" |Damaged
|-
|align="right"|5 May 1918
|align="left" |''M. J. Hedley''
|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|449
|align="left" |Damaged
|-
|align="right"|8 May 1918
|align="left" |''Elizabetta''
|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|335
|align="left" |Damaged
|-
|align="right"|8 May 1918
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in May 1918#8 May|''Thoralf'']]
|align="left" |{{flag|Denmark}}
|align="right"|586
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|13 May 1918
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in May 1918#13 May|''Esperanza De Larrinaga'']]
|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|4,981
|align="left" |Damaged
|-
|align="right"|14 July 1918
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in July 1918#14 July|''Maria Jose'']]
|align="left" |{{flag|Portugal}}
|align="right"|185
|align="left" |Sunk
|}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book
|last1=Gröner
|first1=Erich
|last2=Jung
|first2=Dieter
|last3=Maass
|first3=Martin
|translator-last1=Thomas
|translator-first1=Keith
|translator-last2=Magowan
|translator-first2=Rachel
|year=1991
|title=German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels
|volume=2
|location=London
|publisher=Conway Maritime Press
|isbn=0-85177-593-4
|ref=CITEREFGröner1991
}}
*{{cite book |last1=Rössler |first1=Eberhard |title=Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden |date=1979 |publisher=[[Bernard & Graefe]] |location=[[Munich]] |volume=I|isbn=3-7637-5213-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIvfAAAAMAAJ |language=de}}

==External links==
* {{cite Uboat.net
|id=UB+65
|name=''UB-65''
|type=1sub
}}
* [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20062616.htm SI 2006/2616 Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986]

{{German Type UB III submarines}}
{{July 1918 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:UB065}}
[[Category:German Type UB III submarines]]
[[Category:U-boats commissioned in 1917]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk in 1918]]
[[Category:1918 disasters in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War I submarines of Germany]]
[[Category:World War I shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Protected wrecks of England]]
[[Category:1917 ships]]
[[Category:Ghost ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Hamburg]]
[[Category:Submarines lost with all hands]]
[[Category:1917 in Germany]]
[[Category:1918 in England]]