A piece of World War I naval history has been resting in the depths of Lake Michigan for over a century. The German submarine UC-97, once a fearsome weapon of war, found an unlikely final resting place in the fresh waters of the Great Lakes.
How this U-boat ended up so far from its intended battlegrounds is a fascinating tale of surrender, diplomacy, and a unique journey across the Atlantic.
From the North Sea to the Great Lakes
The UC-97 and its companion submarines set off from England in April 1919 under the command of American crews. The journey was not without its challenges, as the U-boats, designed for short coastal missions, were not well-suited for a transatlantic crossing.
Despite mechanical difficulties and rough seas, the submarines persevered, making stops in the Azores and Bermuda before arriving in New York City.
Once in the United States, the UC-97 was assigned a unique mission: to traverse the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Welland Canal to become the first submarine ever to sail the Great Lakes.
Under the command of Lieutenant Charles A. Lockwood, Jr., who would later become a prominent figure in the U.S. submarine fleet during World War II, the UC-97 embarked on a goodwill tour of the Great Lakes region.
A Goodwill Tour Turns into a Diplomatic Spat
As the UC-97 made its way through the Great Lakes, visiting ports and drawing curious crowds, a diplomatic incident arose. While passing through Canadian-controlled waters, Lieutenant Lockwood refused to fly the British Union Jack, insisting that as a captured vessel, the UC-97 would only fly the American flag above the German flag.
This decision ruffled feathers among Canadian officials, but Lockwood stood his ground and earned praise from his superiors for his adherence to naval protocol.
The U-boat’s tour of the Great Lakes was cut short due to engine wear. By August 1919, the UC-97 arrived in Chicago, where it was turned over to the command of the Ninth Naval District.
The submarine’s journey captured the American public’s imagination and served as a powerful symbol of the country’s victory in the war.
The Final Chapter: UC-97’s Fate Sealed
For two years, the UC-97 remained moored in Chicago, stripped of its valuable equipment and technology for study by the U.S. Navy. However, the terms of the armistice agreement required that all captured German vessels be destroyed.
On June 7, 1921, the UC-97 was towed into Lake Michigan and used as target practice by the gunboat USS Wilmette.(ref) After being struck by numerous rounds, the submarine slipped beneath the waves and came to rest on the lakebed.
The UC-97’s location remained a mystery for decades, with many doubting the story of a German U-boat in the Great Lakes. It wasn’t until 1992 that marine archaeologists positively identified the submarine’s wreckage.
Today, the UC-97 remains a fascinating footnote in naval history, a testament to the far-reaching impact of World War I and the incredible journey of a German submarine to the heart of America.(ref)
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
