| Summary : 1921 wreck of German Type UB III submarine (U-boat) which stranded west of Pendennis Point, Falmouth, in a gale en route to being expended as a gunnery target, together with five other U-boats also surrendered to Britain at Harwich after the First World War. All were said to have been broken up shortly afterwards or during the Second World War, or both. Constructed of steel in 1917, UB-86 was an engine-driven vessel.
For her possible remains, please see 919745. For the other surrendered German submarines stranded and broken up in this area, please see: UB-97 (possible remains, 919746; account of wreck event, 1547208); UB-106 (possible remains, 919743; account of wreck event, 1547206); UB-112 (possible remains, 919744; account of wreck event, 1547217); UB-128 (possible remains, 919748; account of wreck event, 1547231); and UC-92 (positively identified remains, 919749).
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| More information : Wreck Event and Documentary Evidence:
A group of German submarines were allocated to Falmouth for gunnery practice and experiments, 8 were delivered, 2 were deliberately sunk, the remaining 6 were swept onto rocks in Castle Drive during a winter gale in 1921.
One sank close inshore near the bathing beach and part of its hull still shows (1969) at low water. The others sank along the line of rocks and their remains are scattered over a large area, still being salvaged.
Six submarines (UB-106; UB-112; UB-128; UB-86; UB-97; UC-92) sold to Messrs R H Roskell and A Rogers in March/April 1921. (1)
Surrendered 24-NOV-1918; broken up in situ 1921 after grounding near Falmouth with UB-97, UB-106, UB-112, UB-128 and UC-92. (2)
The vessel is said to have been broken up during the Second World War for scrap (McCartney 2003) and was sold in 1983 to T & L Feeney. (3)
This U-boat is documented in the official list of submarines surrendered at Harwich during November 1918. (4)
'Under the command of Klt. Hans Trenk, UB86 was to conduct a total of five successful war patrols before she surrendered in Wilhelmshaven a year later.' (5)
UB-86 was surrendered to the Allies at Harwich on 24 November 1918 in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany. After passing into British hands, UB-86 was towed to Falmouth along with five other U-boats [UB-97, UC-92, UB-106, UB-112, and UB-128.] for use in a series of explosive test trials by the Royal Navy in Falmouth Bay, in order to find weaknesses in their design. Following her use on 14 January 1921, UB-86 was dumped on Castle Beach and sold to R. Roskelly & Rodgers on 19 April 1921 for scrap (for £110), and partially salvaged over the following decades, although parts remain in situ.
Laid down: 25-JAN-1917 (2)
Launched: 10-OCT-1917 (2)
Commissioned: 10-NOV-1917 (2)
Builder: AG Weser (2)(6)
Where Built: Bremen (2)
Unit: III Flotilla (2)
Owner: ex. Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy), in ownership of Royal Navy at time of loss (1)(2)
Date of Loss Qualifier: Approximate date of loss
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