Wreck Of WWI-Era Submarine U16 Raised From North Sea After 106 Years

A World War I German submarine that had been lying on the seabed for more than a century has been lifted from the waters off Germany’s North Sea coast. The wreck of U16, which sank in 1919 near the island of Scharhörn, was raised at night on September 1, 2025, in a technically demanding salvage operation.

The task was carried out by the Dutch crane vessel Matador 3 under the direction of the Elbe-North Sea Waterways and Shipping Authority.

According to the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), the recovery was necessary because the submarine had become a safety concern for shipping after adjustments were made to the Elbe and Outer Elbe waterways.

The wreck was resting at a depth of about 20 meters. When the lift began, the submarine broke into two parts. The first half was transported on pontoons to Cuxhaven, where it is being scrapped. Work on the second half of the wreck is still underway and is expected to continue this week, depending on the weather.

The BSH explained that before the salvage, strong currents in the area made diving operations brief and limited. No photos of the wreck could be taken, but sonar scans showed deep depressions in the seabed at the bow and stern, which created a risk that part of the wreck could shift if it tipped into these holes.

U16 was built in 1911 and served actively during the First World War. The submarine completed around a dozen combat patrols and sank nearly 30 vessels during its career. In 1919, it was sailing toward Britain to be handed over as part of Germany’s postwar reparations when it sank off Scharhörn.

Local historian Jann M. Witt told Tageblatt that it was likely the crew scuttled the submarine rather than surrender it. Per reports, all crewmembers survived the sinking.

BSH said it last visited the site on July 18, 2023, as part of its regular wreck inspections. Each year, the agency examines about 200 underwater obstacles in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and around 40 new ones are added annually. These checks are important because wrecks and other seabed barriers shift over time due to currents, sediment movement, and corrosion.

The wreck of U16 belongs to the Federal Directorate of Waterways and Shipping and is not legally considered a war grave. Officials earlier considered preserving the submarine, but no museum agreed to take on the full wreck. However, some parts may still be kept for display.

Reference: Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency

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