Type: This submarine should not be confused with the WWII U-12 which lies in the English Channel. 

Picture: 

Wreck Information : The U-12 was the first submarine to have an aeroplane carried on it's deck for deployment at sea, an unusual concept, which proved to be a limited experiment for this boat. An early WW1 design of submarine, U12 had a two stroke engine running on kerosene (paraffin) driving twin stern propellers. Key identifying features include the two forward and two aft firing torpedo tubes, six conning tower portholes.

Parking directions: At the Harbour

Distance from harbour:   Eyemouth

Lat / Long: N5614.618 W0151.422

Chart:   To Follow

Depth: The seabed is at 47m, top of the pressure hull/casing is 43m and the top of the conning tower is around 41m

Tides:     Tide tables 

Diveboat:      Marinequest 

Dive Shop:     Aquastars  Edinburgh dive centre   FYM 

Accommodation:    Marinequest 

Suggested experience:   Trimix rebreather

Other comments: The wreck is a war grave, nineteen German sailors died, there was no disturbance of the site nor the removal of any artifact. Hans Kratzch commanded U12 and went down with his boat. After the engagement U12s conning tower hatch could only partially open, dooming most of the crew from leaving the sinking submarine. There were ten survivors from the other two hatches, these men were picked up by the heavily damaged HMS Ariel, recovering two men despite having considerable bow damage, the other survivors were saved by the rest of the search flotilla.The damage to the port side of the submarine due to the ramming of the boat by HMS Ariel during U12s final engagement is still visible on the wreck. This wreck is protected under the Military Remains Act 1986 (Designated controlled sites).

Created by: Marinequest 

Date:  15/1/08

Revision:  3 

Thanks To:  Graeme Govenlock,  Themacallan,  Jumbobo and  Mike Clark for the U/W pictures

Underwater photos:    Utube    Utube

                                    Porthole with wiper                                                                          The two rear torpedo tubes

                        The starboard prop with trawl net                                                                   Conning tower port side

Wreck diagram:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dive Report:   James 6/3/11 Diving with Marinequest, headed out at 9.30 with 10 divers, weather was good with only a slight swell, once on site the wreck was shot and we headed down to the wreck, water was very cold at 6.4 Degree Celsius. As we descended the wreck came into view around the 35m mark, viz was 10m+. the shot had landed perfect, right on the centre of the hull at 43m. We headed towards conning tower and had a look down inside it, shoals of fish were hiding inside it. Next we made out way towards the stern, loads of old fishing nets are draped over the hull so great care must be taken, below the nets where tons of lobbies, more than I’ve ever seen on one wreck, stopped counting at 12! A lot of the hatches are open and this provided a good view of the inside of the sub. Swam down to the two props, there was a section of the brass prop shaft that was gleaming as it had been rubbed by the swaying nets. The vision of the stern area with superb visibility and the divers torches is one I will remember for a long time. Headed back towards the bow, most of the outer hull is gone leaving a lot of the workings exposed, this is a great dive and all the wreck can be seen on one dive