Boat propeller handed back to German Navy
A FIRST World War U-Boat propeller has been handed back to the German Navy more than 100 years after its submarine was sunk by British forces.
The propeller was one of two recovered by police in Bangor, North Wales, last year and is believed to have been illegally recovered from the wreck of the submarine UC-75 by a diver.
The U-Boat was built and launched in 1916 and credited with sinking 58 ships, including two warships and damaging a further eight, either by torpedo or by mines laid.
It was rammed and sunk by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS
Fairy in May 1918 and 17 German crew members died, while 14 others survived.
Yesterday, one of the propellers started its journey back to Germany, with the second one destined for display at the Royal Navy Museum in Portsmouth.
It was formally handed over on board FGS Bonn which is currently based in Plymouth for training following a joint operation between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Historic England and North Wales Police.
In November, two Remembrance ceremonies, one in Germany and one in the UK, will be held at the same time to honour the fallen of both sides.
The cleaning of the propellers was supervised by Paul Stevens, an Instructor at Southampton College Marine Skills School.