UC32

3D Model

The German U-boat UC32 was laying mines off the mouth of the River Wear at night in early 1917, with 22 crew members on board and in just 12 metres of water, when she was struck by her own mine, causing a loud explosion which alerted the citizens of Sunderland to her presence.

Lifeboats were launched, but only three of her crew members survived, including the Captain Oberleutnant zur See Herbert Breyer. It was thought that a plug that held the mine to the sinker must have dissolved too quickly, releasing the mine, which exploded under her stern end. Locals lined the docks and jeered and spat at the survivors as they were escorted ashore under armed guard.

The wreck was discovered by a group of divers from Sunderland in 1980, who soon found that there were still live torpedos on board. Because of this, the Royal Navy brought in divers to examine her and decided to disperse the wreck. The wreck lies approximately 400m north from the pier lighthouse at Sunderland in a general depth of 12-13m.