Part of the 3rd U-Boat Flotilla based at Kiel, U-16 was a type II B boat. HMS PUFFIN, SAON and KAYTON WYKE, on Dover patrol, had the task of guarding the Goodwins through which a U-Boat could slip at night with a good tide. On October 24, HM Coastguards, monitoring a loop cable detector,were alerted to a submarine and the three vessels steamed up and down the break dropping a total of 82 depth charges. This drove the enemy vessel onto the West Goodwins and literally as they watched she was swallowed up in the sands along with all its crew. A strong gale prevented any action, and whilst a cable ship came out to join them and hopefully take the submarine in tow this was not possible. It would have been a great prize, the first U-Boat captured in WW 2. The skipper of HM trawler SAON, built in 1933 and purchased as an anti submarine vessel in 1939, was awarded the DSC for his part in the action. Engine HP: 700 Propulsion: 2 x screw, oil engine Armament: 3 x TT.; 6 x torpedoes; 1 x 2 cm. gun Owner: German Navy Crew: 25 Date of Loss Qualifier: A Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index: MOD(N).Hyd.Wk.No.012303185; GSS p156 (1)

Vertical Datum: LAT Depth charged and sunk by HM ships PUFFIN and CAYTON WYKE.

12-SEP-1967 Wreck found depth 60 in general depth 82ft, no scour.

21-AUG-1968 Depth over wreck 60 ft in general depth of seabed 83ft, no scour.

08-AUG-1969 Depth over wreck 17.8 in general depth 25m, no scour. Seabed flat.

23-SEP-1971 Depth 17.6m in general depth 25m, seabed flat.

02-MAY-1973 Depth 18.4m in general depth 25m, scour 27.4m, seabed broken shell, sand and gravel.

30-FEB-1974 Depth by 18.0 in general depth 25-26m, on flat seabed.

09-AUG-1974 Depth 18.1 in general depth 25-26m, scour 26.2m.

30-OCT-1976 position 51 09 05N, 001 28 12E, depth 18 in general depth 25m.

09-MAR-1977 Depth 17.8 in general depth 25m, no scour. Rippled sand and small stones, lies N/S. Height 6.1m.

10-MAY-1978 Depth 17.6 in general depth 24.3m, no scour. height 3.8m, length 60m, lying NE/SW.

26-JUL-1979. Depth 17.8 in general depth 25m, no scour, height 6.5m, lies 040/220 deg, length 25m. 12-SEP-1984 Stern beginning to deteriorate. Evidence seen of recent commercial diving.

16-JUL-1991 Depth 17.2 in general depth 24.5m, scour depth 25.2m, height 6.0m, length 98m. large wreck lying 018/198 deg. Other sources: East Kent Maritime Trust (2)

Hydrographic Office wreck index (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.

Hydrographic Office wreck index (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.