WW1 U Boat Sub Wreck in Medway, Kent

How did a World War one U-Boat end up on the mud flats of the Medway ninety years after the end of the Great War?

Story has it that 26 German U-Boat surrendered to the Royal Navy at the end of the war and were marched up the River. These surrendered U-Boats were dumped or scuttled in the creek of the Medway.

After the war a scrap company bought the surrendered U-Boats and went about taking out the engines and generators to be sold.

Later the scrap company went out of business before scrapping the metal on the U-Boats, this was because the price of scrap metal has fallen sharply and the cost of breaking up the U-Boats was higher than the financial return.

Out of the 26 Uboats only three remain on the mudflats. 23 of the 26 Uboats have disappeared, it is believed these were tugged off and scrapped but it is unsure when this happened.

Of the three remaining U-Boats two exist in the Slede creek but have little remaining of what they once were due to metal salvaging in World War two. What is left is also half buried in the mud flats.

The other U-Boat left sits alone, isolated on the mud flats away from the other two relics.

UB122 was ordered on the 28th February 1917 at a cost of 3,654 marks. The builder who took on the order was AG Weser in Bremen.

UB122 was laid down May 21st 1917, launched Feb 2nd 1918 and commissioned Mar 4th 1918. UB122 joined 3rd Submarine Flotilla under the commanding officer of Oberleutnant zur See Alexander Magnus.

Making two war patrols with no successes between 7th July 1918 and November 11th 1918 UB122 was delivered to the UK on 24th November 1918 and accidently beached when it was on its way to the breakers yard.

UB122 had three commanding officers and 31 of other ranks on board when at sea.

Full specifications

512 tons on surface, 643 tons submerged. 55,85 x 5,80 x 3,72 m oa.

2 x Körting 6-Cyl 4-stroke diesel engines, 1060 SHP = 13,9 knots.
2 x Siemens Schuckert Werke electrical engines, 788 SHP = 7,6 knots.
2 x screws 1,40 m diameter.
2 x rudder.
4 x depth rudders.

Time to dive 30 seconds. Max diving depth 50 m.

5 x torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) with 10 x 50 cm torpedos.
1 x 88 mm dual-purpose gun L/30 with 160 rounds.

U122 and U123 were ordered on the 17th May 1916 at a cost of 6,145 marks. The builder who took on the order was Blohm & Voss of Hamburg.

U122 was launched Feb 2nd 1918 and commissioned May 4th 1918 while U123 was launched Jan 26th 1918 and commissioned July 20th 1918.

U122 joined 1st Submarine Flotilla under the commanding officer of Kapitänleutnant Alfred Korte. U122 did one war patrol without any success and was bought to GB on 26th November 1918.

U123 did no war patrol and was under the commanding officer of Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve Karl Thouret. U123 came to GB on 22nd November 1918.

Both U-Boat were minelaying U-Boats and carried four officers plus 36 of other ranks when at sea.

Full specifications

1163 tons surfaced, 1468 tons submerged. 82.00 x 7.42 x 4.22 m oa.

2 x MAN 6-Cyl 4-stroke diesel engines 2400 SHP = 14,7 knots.
2 x Siemens Schuckert Werke electrical engines 1235 SHP = 7,2 knots.
2 x screws 1,61 m diameter.
2 x rudders.
4 x depth rudders.

Time to dive 30 seconds. Max diving depth 75 m.

6 x torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) with 12 x 50 cm torpedos.
U 122: 1 x 150 mm gun L/45
U 123: 2 x 105 mm dual-purpose guns L/45
30 mines.

Because of the location of the U-Boat, sitting on the mud flats of the Medway, the U-Boat cannot be visited without a hovercraft or safe sea worthy small boat.

If you were to stand or try and walk in the mudflats you would be stuck fast up to your waist or higher in mud within seconds.

The mudflats are also tidal so do get covered in water at high tide and totally uncovered when the tide is out.

There is also the risk that if you go out in a boat that is not secure and safe you could run the risk of becoming stuck or having the boat sink as the waters are not very calm.