U.196 was a German U.Boat sent to the Far East late in WW2 as part of the Monson Group to hunt in The Indian Ocean and if possible further afield around Australian waters.
On 30th. November, fully fueled and stocked up with food, she left her base in Penang, Malaysia - and promptly disappeared.
Rumours abounded that she was full of gold bullion and had headed for South America. She was supposedly seen along the Mexican coast, then Chile. Then nothing.....
In 1981 fishermen along New Zealand's North Auckland Peninsular reported snagging their nets on an underwater object. A dive was organised and it was discovered the wreck was indeed an unidentified submarine. The Auckland Peninsular is in a direct line from the Chilean Coast......
The wreck was dived on again in 2006. This time it was more exposed and had moved slightly from it's original position. The submarine was found to be in excellent condition due to it originally being buried in sand. Still no positive i.d.
In 2018 after severe tropical storms hit the coast in parts of remote Northern New Zealand, a survey of the coastline was ordered to check on any damage. A member of the team scrutinizing the satellite images noticed a strange 'Something' half out of the water on a particularly desolate shoreline. An investigation was launched. A Marine Professor and an assistant were flown out to the area of the sighting.
This is what awaited them........ U.196
True story or a complete load of cobblers?
Either way the various theories of U.196's life and final voyage makes for excellent reading. I recommend it.
I hope you like my U.Boat, whatever number she had.
Thanks for looking.
Ron
On 30th. November, fully fueled and stocked up with food, she left her base in Penang, Malaysia - and promptly disappeared.
Rumours abounded that she was full of gold bullion and had headed for South America. She was supposedly seen along the Mexican coast, then Chile. Then nothing.....
In 1981 fishermen along New Zealand's North Auckland Peninsular reported snagging their nets on an underwater object. A dive was organised and it was discovered the wreck was indeed an unidentified submarine. The Auckland Peninsular is in a direct line from the Chilean Coast......
The wreck was dived on again in 2006. This time it was more exposed and had moved slightly from it's original position. The submarine was found to be in excellent condition due to it originally being buried in sand. Still no positive i.d.
In 2018 after severe tropical storms hit the coast in parts of remote Northern New Zealand, a survey of the coastline was ordered to check on any damage. A member of the team scrutinizing the satellite images noticed a strange 'Something' half out of the water on a particularly desolate shoreline. An investigation was launched. A Marine Professor and an assistant were flown out to the area of the sighting.
This is what awaited them........ U.196
True story or a complete load of cobblers?
Either way the various theories of U.196's life and final voyage makes for excellent reading. I recommend it.
I hope you like my U.Boat, whatever number she had.
Thanks for looking.
Ron
