For those interested, had an email from the Swedes today e Gepard, had a look at the foootage, you can definately see the external drop collar torpdoes on this wreck.

She is split, the theory was she was lost due to a mechanical failure, mines now her likely cause. The Germans secretly laid these barriers in 1917 that sank AG14, Bars, Lvista, & Gepard. The German minelayer Nautilis definately sank the Bars as she lies on one of her barriers.

DB



http://www.stockholmnews.com/more.aspx?NID=4027

It's not every day is it!

Nice story Darren, you learn something new every day.

Cheers Andy.

Hi Andy,

The loss of Gepard all but finished Russian submarine operations in WW1 in the Baltic. She was the 4th lost that year. I have read diaries where there is a lot of suggestions of the Russian crews deliberately sabotaging their vessels so as not to put to sea, and with the temper of those times it would not be supprising. It was even mentioned as being done to a British submarine over there.

When Gepard went missing Acting Captain Cromie ordered the British submarine E1 to search her known patrol areas, and he thankfully gave these locations which when i read them was different to the Russian items i had read on where they thought she would be. So her location of around 30 nauticle miles NE of Goska Sandon fits in with Cromie's take on things.

WW1 Subs in the Baltic, only a few to go now, E18, U10, & Som all from 1916 to be found & all lost about the same week.

DB

Forgot to mention Akula as well, lost in November 1915 & a great mystery. She went out with E19, she had been fitted with crude minelaying devices that were behind her conning tower. The seas were extremely heavy over the period she was lost, and the Russians were convinced she went end over end due to the unbalanced COG caused by the 4 mines on he aft side of her CT.

She is important in that she was Russia's first diesl boat, and best at the start of the war.

DB

Here is the underwater footage. Around the 20 minute make & beyond, very clear images of the conning tower with hatch closed.

http://www.sjofartsverket.se/upload/Film/V...lmer/Gepard.wmv

They also tell me Bars found in the 1990s, is possibily the Lvista.

Hi Darren
You mentioned the U10, E18 and the Som still missing. What about the U26? Has she been found or still missing? Rumor on another posting has the E18 being found if so congradulations and keep up the good work.

U26, Akula, Som, U10, and Bars or Lvista, (if they can decide), still missing.

DB

So then UC 57 has been found?

Best wishes,
Michael

Hi Michael,

Always one i leave out! Going mad!

DB

Hi Michael,

also forgot to mention that Vello Mass from the Estonian Maritime Museum found the sunken Bars-class submarine Edinorog on the Tallinn-Helsinki fairway this year. She has speared into the seabed with her nose dug in and stern sticking out.

Cheers DB

Good work and thanks for the round up of which one's are still missing.

Gepard footage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSov0pCPW9I

The sunken Bars-class submarine Edinorog.