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U-853
 41 12 40N 71 25 20W, Block Island, RI
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Max Depth: 121-130ft/37-40m
Average Viz: 21-25ft/6-8m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Might See Something
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Rating: 3.00 by 1 divers
Spring: Under 50°F/10°C
Summer: Under 50°F/10°C
Fall: Under 50°F/10°C
Winter: Under 50°F/10°C
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U-853 is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located at 41 12 40N 71 25 20W, Block Island, RI. This dive site has an average rating of 3.00 out of 5 from 1 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 121-130ft/37-40m. The average visibility is 21-25ft/6-8m.
The U-853, which had been nick named by her crew Der Seiltaenzer Tightrope Walker, was a type IXC German U-Boat. Commissioned on June 25, 1943, she was 251.9 feet long, 22.5 feet wide and displaced 740 tons.
On May 1, 1945, Hamburg radio announced that Adolf Hitler was dead. Grand Admiral Doenitz took over as Der Fuehrer and immediately began to arrange a surrender. On May 4, 1945, with WW II quickly coming to an end, Admiral Karl Doenitz gave the following order All U-boats cease fire at once. Stop all hostile action against allied shipping. Doenitz.
We are not sure if the U-853 received Donitz’s transmission or simply refused to obey his orders. US
naval experts at the time considered U-boat captains to be among the most fanatical members of the German military and predicted that some would continue to fight despite Doenitz’s order.
On May 5, the U-853, which had been prowling the waters northeast of Block Island, torpedoed and sank the coiler Black Point, killing twelve men. Two minutes later, the SS Kamen, a Yugoslav freighter, radioed word of the sinking. Within an hour, the U.S. Navy Taskforce, which was in the area, began hunting the 853. The Atherton found her within three hours and the attack began. The Navy used Hedgehogs (rocket launched projectiles), depth charges, three ships and two blimps. After an assault with depth charges, various bits of debris floated to the surface including a pillow, a life jacket and the U-boat’s captain’s hat.
This was only a trick as the Navy’s sonar then caught the sub moving east. Again and again, resulting in a cat and mouse type game to the death, the Navy’s sonar would locate the U-boat and the attacks would
resume. The first attack started at 8:29 PM. The Navy continued its assault until 10:45 AM the next day. The U-853 was declared officially dead.
Today the U-853 sits in a 130 feet of water off Block
Island, she sits upright and intact on a sandy bottom. Penetration is possible but, should
only be done by trained and experienced divers.
Note: Artifacts taking from this shipwreck is now forbidden. She was declared an Official War Grave.
ecophotoexplorers.com/u853.aspaquaexplorers.com/u-853_shipwreck.htmnortheastdiver.com/u-853.html