U 480 Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category non-dangerous wreck
U 480 Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		50 22.139 N,1 44.243 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 50.368983
  • Longitude: -1.737383
Wreck Depth 50 m
Water Depth 55 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name U 480
Type submarine
Flag DE
Length 67.1 m
Width 6.1 m
Draught 4.9
Sonar Length 65
Sonar Width 7
Shadow Height 6
Tonnage 871
Tonnage Type displacement
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Feb 24, 1945
Bottom Texture Gravel
Scour Dimensions 0035.0,,001.0,
Original Detection Year 1993
Last Detection Year 2002
Original Source diver
Surveying Details HH100/351/08 9.11.93 HH100/351/08 9.11.93 WK OF WHAT IS THOUGHT A TYPE VIIC U-BOAT LOCATED OCT '92 IN 502204N, 0014410W USING DECCA. CHARTED DEPTH HERE IS 42MTRS BUT IS THOUGHT MORE LIKELY 60MTRS. WK LIES WITH 10DEG STBD LIST. HAS RUBBER MATTING ON MAIN DECK AND AA GUNS AFT OF CONNING TOWER, WHICH IS DAMAGED. NO GUN FOR'D. ALL HATCHES APPEAR TO BE CLOSED. FURTHER DETAILS TO BE FORWARDED. COMMERCIAL GUARD REQUESTED. (J WELCH, 13.10.93). NCA YET. POSSIBLY U 325, SUNK APR '45. HH100/351/08 12.9.94 HH100/351/08 12.9.94 WK LIES IN 502209N, 014408W [WGD]. HAS 30DEG LIST TO STBD. SECTION OF THE STERN LIES NEAR THE WK WITH CIRCULAR HATCH PARTLY OPEN (?TUBE DOOR). LARGE HOLE/RENT ALONG THE PRESSURE HULL FWD OF THE CONNING TOWER. LEAST DEPTH BY DIVE COMPUTER 51MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 58MTRS. SCOUR DEPTH 60MTRS. SEABED SHINGLE AND SCATTERED ROCKS. (J WELCH). INS AS WK USC 50MTRS. BR STD. HH100/351/13 13.2.98 HH100/351/13 13.2.98 LIES IN 502205N, 014410W [OGB]. A LARGE GERMAN SUBMARINE OF WWII VINTAGE. HULL HAS 'ALBERICH' SKIN, A 4MM LAYER OF RUBBER DESIGNED TO MUFFLE ECHO REFLECTIONS. THIS TYPE OF SKIN DID NOT EXIST IN WW1. LOCATED AFTER FISHING GEAR FOULED THE HULL. REPORTED AS STANDING ABOUT 5MTRS HIGH IN 57-59MTRS. THERE IS A SUGGESTION THAT THE WK MOVES OR ROLLS AS CONNING TOWER HAS BEEN REPORTED BOTH UPRIGHT AND CLOSE TO THE SEABED. CINC REQUESTED. (D C WENDES, 28.1.98). NCA. 26.10.98 26.10.98 BELIEVED THAT WK IS U 480, SUNK BY MINE. (K TILDESLEY, NAVAL HISTORICAL BRANCH, TELECON 26.10.98). 2.2.99 2.2.99 POSN AMENDED TO 5022.150N, 0144.133W [WGD]. BR STD. HH100/351/14 18.2.99 HH100/351/14 18.2.99 IDENTITY OF BOAT AS U 480 IS CONSIDERED TO BE 99%. FURTHER DETAILS OF RESEARCH AND LOSS IN THIS LETTER. (NAVAL HISTORICAL BRANCH, 12.2.99). HH090/962/01 12.12.02 HH090/962/01 12.12.02 EXAM'D 19.6.02 IN 5022.139N, 0144.243W [WGD] USING DGPS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 50 IN GEN DEPTH 55MTRS. SCOUR 1MTRS DEEP EXTENDS 35MTRS TOWARDS 270DEGS AND 40MTRS TOWARDS 090DEGS. LENGTH 65MTRS, WIDTH 7MTRS. DCS3 HT 6MTRS. LIES 000/180DEGS. MODERATE MAGNETIC ANOMALY. UPRIGHT & INTACT. (GARDLINE, HI 962). AMEND TO WK 55MTRS. BR STD. 10.12.03 10.12.03 CINC REMOVED ON DATA SUPPLIED JAN '98, LONGER THAN 5 YEARS. 21.2.07 21.2.07 IDENTIFIED BY SERIAL NUMBER OF CONNING TOWER RANGEFINDER. (SOUTH COAST SHIPWRECKS). 28.6.10 28.6.10 DIVE REPORT STATES THAT TAIL OF STERN IS BROKEN OFF & LIES ON ITS STARBOARD SIDE. STARBOARD SIDE PROPELLER SHAFT AND PROP LIE ON SEABED BETWEEN TAIL SECTION AND THE MAIN BODY OF WK. CONNING TOWER IS HIGHEST POINT. DEBRIS LIES OFF STARBOARD SIDE MIDSHIPS. DECKS DECAYED. FULL DESCRIPTION WITH PHOTOS. (DIVER MAGAZINE JUL '10)
Last Amended Date Feb 21, 2007

Circumstances of loss

14.8.1943 TYPE VIIC BOAT. BUILT BY DEUTSCHE WERKE KIEL AG. LAUNCHED 14.8.1943. COMMISSIONED 6.10.1943. SERVED WITH 11 U-FLOTILLA UNTIL HER LOSS. COMMANDED BY OBERLEUTNANT ZUR SEE HANS-JOACHIM FORSTER. ALL 48 CREW LOST. MINED.

General Comments

UPRIGHT & INTACT, SCOUR EXTENDS E & W

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 50 22.139 N,1 44.243 W
U 480 on Wreck Map U 480 Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the U 480 wreck located?

The U 480 wreck is located at coordinates 50 22.139 N,1 44.243 W.

How deep is the U 480 and where exactly is it located?

The U 480 lies at a depth of about 50 meters and is located at coordinates 50 22.139 N,1 44.243 W.

How deep is the seabed around the U 480?

The seabed around the U 480 lies at approximately 55 meters deep.

When did the U 480 sink?

The U 480 sank on Feb 24, 1945.

When was the wreck of the U 480 discovered?

The wreck of the U 480 was discovered in 1993.

What country did the U 480 belong to?

The U 480 belonged to DE.

What was the tonnage of the U 480?

The U 480 had a tonnage of 871 tons.

What type of wreck is the U 480?

The U 480 is classified as a submarine.

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