A Return Flight to WWI German U Boat Wreck: UB-122

Situated within a creek on the River Medway are the Wrecks of 3 WWI German U Boats.
At the end of WWI the Germans surrendered 100 of their U Boats due to the armistice, these were taken to Harwich, some of them being sent to naval dockyards for scrapping and some to the French Navy. Three of the U Boats were purchased by a Cement Works in Halling, Medway.
It is believed this particular U Boat could be the wreck of SM U-112 a type U 93 Submarine which was armed with 12-16 Torpedos launched in 1918 by the German Imperial Navy and being surrendered on 22nd November 1918 or SM UB-122 a type UB III Submarine which had an armament of 10 Torpedos which was launched in 1918 by the German Imperial Navy, unsuccessfully completing 2 patrols before being surrendered on 24th November 1918. It is most likely to be SM UB-122 this is due to it size and the fact U-112 was a minelaying U Boat.
UB-122 was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 4th March 1918 following a years construction at the AG Weser of Bremen works. UB-122 could hold 10 Torpedos and had a 8.8cm (3.46inch) deck gun, the crew consisted of 3 officers and 31 men.
Following the surrender of the U Boat anything of value was stripped out and sold, this included its diesel engines which were installed at the cement works in Halling and the conning tower. In 1921 it was towed back up the Medway. One possible theory is that UB-122, UB-76 and UB-93 were on their way to Sheerness Dockyard to be broken up further for scrap and the metal sold on only for them to break free of their tow and end up in their current positions. Due to the location of the wrecks they were deemed unviable to salvage and left in their current positions.
This wreck has become more visible in recent years due to the shifting sands and changing tides but is in remarkable condition. It’s bow can be clearly seen along with its torpedo tubes and stern.
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