100-year mystery is finally solved after sunken WWI U-boat and tanker are found

Divers have found the final resting place of a World War One German U-boat which sunk in 1917.

The UC-18 vessel was lost after a battle with a secret Royal Navy ship called the Lady Olive, which also sunk in the English Channel, on February 19 1917.

Divers have spent the last four years trying to find the exact location of both vessels.

The fate of the sub had been left unknown for almost 100 years because no wreckage had ever been found until now.

The case is thought to be the only one in history where a sub and the vessel it was attacking sank each other.

All 28 crew members on the German sub were killed, but British troops escaped with no injuries, and many were rescued off the French coast.

The find has now been filmed for a BBC documentary and underwater filmmaker Karl Taylor said he was ‘elated’ at the idea.

The documentary called The Hunt for Lady Olive and the German Submarine will air on the BBC in June.

He said: ‘Finding a wreck of this historical significance is a once in a lifetime discovery.

‘It’s been a long and technically challenging project but to be able to set the historical records straight on the details of the battle and the locations of the wrecks is fantastic.’

After extensive research around three possible target areas southwest of Guernsey, the sub was eventually found at a depth of more than 230ft.

They worked with Guernsey Press Picture Editor Peter Frankland to identify the wreck.

Karl said: ‘The organisation of the dives has been extremely difficult due to the amount of crew and equipment required, the location of the wrecks and the depth of water they’re in.

‘We were limited to diving during periods of slack water which only occur during small neap tides.

‘These had to be coupled with extremely calm sea conditions and good visibility to give us the best chance of completing these technically complicated dives safely.

‘Working so far offshore meant that we had to be especially vigilant when planning our dives as any help, should it be needed, was at least two hours away.’

The original battle took place eight miles off the coast of Jersey, but the sunken vessels have been found 40 miles further west.

The findings have now been passed over to French and German officials and the location is closed to divers because it is now a designated war grave.

The German War Graves Commission has expressed their grateful thanks to the team in locating the wreck.

They are making plans for a German Naval vessel to be deployed to the site to take part in a wreath laying ceremony this summer.

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