Recalling the loss of UC 44

by Aug 5, 2019Uncategorized7 comments

It was just about midnight on a calm moonlit night in Waterford Harbour. Aboard the WWI mine laying submarine UC-44, her skipper, Kurt Tebbenjoahnnes, satisfied himself as to their position and gave the orders to start deploying her load.  The UC class of sub were a relatively new design and although they could deploy mines from the surface, secrecy was paramount.  As the night was so clear and they were initially so close to land (at Creaden Head, Co Waterford) Tebbenjoahnnes gave the command to submerge. These mines were stored in chutes in the forward section of the submarine. Each mine was dropped individually and the position carefully recorded.  As the mine dropped out, the sub floated astern on the tide.  As it hit the bottom, a soluble plug held the mine in position, allowing plenty of time for the sub to clear.  Saltwater reacted to the plug, which eventually dissolved and released the mine which floated up to a predetermined height on a wire.

A sketch sketch of the mines deployed

Beneath the mine was a hydrostatic valve that was set to a specific depth which controlled the position of the mine.  Whatever way the tide was running, it maintained the mine beneath the surface making detection much more difficult.  There the mines waited for an unsuspecting ship to pass over and strike the protruding horns which triggered an explosion.

While this operation was ongoing Tebbenjoahnnes remained in the conning tower, checking the boats position and plotting his course for Queenstown (Cobh) in Cork harbour.  Suddenly he heard and felt a loud explosion and his boat lurched downwards and struck the seabed.

Tebbenjoahnnes found himself on the bottom of Waterford harbour in the conning tower and was speedily joined by two other submariners; chief engine room officer Fahnster and a young apprentice named Richter.  Any attempts to raise the submarine were in vain and with no communication with the rest of the crew and waters rising around them they were faced with only one choice, to try for the surface which was 90 feet above. All three emerged from below almost as one, but eventually they drifted apart. Miraculously Tebbenjoahnnes was pulled aboard a local fishing boat later that morning by Dunmore East fishermen. Tebbenjoahnnes was cared for in the home of Mrs Chester and was attended by Mr Austin Farrell. Later that morning he was turned over to the authorities and began his journey to London and life as a POW.

For a view of the wreck of UC42 which was lost in Cork Harbour follow this link via Carroll O’Donoghue via KINSALE DEEP SEA ANGLING

Removing the remaining mines following salvage. Courtesy of Paul O’Farrell

The rescue of Tebbenjoahnnes would trigger a series of events over the next few days and weeks that would see the death of a crew man aboard the minesweeper Haldon and the dramatic salvage of the submarine that would have a major part to play in the allies winning WWI.

All that was to come however. On that morning of the 5th August, Tebbenjohannes had breakfast before commencing his new life as a POW under escort to London for interrogation.

A story of the salvage and the implications of WWI is subject of a new book by Tony Babb. It makes for an interesting read


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7 Comments

  1. Kev

    Once again, another amazing story. Thanks.

    Reply
    • andrew

      Thanks Kev

      Reply
  2. Clare

    Fascinating!thanks…love the bit about how the mines operated too…

    Reply
    • andrew

      So technologically advanced Clare…amazing how imaginative the human being is…both for good and ill!

      Reply
  3. Kevin O Mahony

    That’s a really great story Andrew and I enjoyed it so much in the book ! Keep up the good works, I suppose you know there was a similar story just off Cork Harbour from the same era !

    Reply
    • andrew

      Hi Kevin, yes I was aware of that. Amazing times they were…difficult time to be at sea…or in a trench on the western front

      Reply
  4. Phillip Cameron

    My great uncle Robert Clyde Cameron was on the USS Milville at this time.

    Reply

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