Explorers Find German U-Boat Off Nantucket

July 27, 2012

The Associated Press

This April 16, 1944, photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows crewmen of the German U-550 submarine abandoning ship in the Atlantic Ocean after being depth charged by the USS Joyce, a destroyer in an Allied convoy that the submarine attacked. A team of explorers found the U-550 Monday on the floor of the Atlantic about 70 miles south of Nantucket Island. (AP/U.S. Navy) — This April 16, 1944, photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows crewmen of the German U-550 submarine abandoning ship in the Atlantic Ocean after being depth charged by the USS Joyce, a destroyer. A team of explorers found the U-550 Monday about 70 miles south of Nantucket Island. (AP/U.S. Navy)

Divers have discovered a World War II-era German submarine nearly 70 years after it sank under withering U.S. attack in deep waters off Nantucket.

The U-550 was found on Monday by a seven-man group, some of whom have been searching for the lost U-boat for several years.

It was the second trip in two years to the site by the team of divers, who were led by New Jersey lawyer Joe Mazraani. He said the group used sonar to locate the wreck in deep water about 70 miles south of Nantucket. The divers photographed the U-550 and Mazraani said a return trip is planned.

In April 1944, the U-550 torpedoed an Allied gasoline tanker, but was fatally damaged by depth charges from an escort vessel. Forty-four Germans were killed and 25 aboard the tanker died.

This program aired on July 27, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.