BAREG Update – Late Summer 2024

U-853 – 13&14 JUL
The first of two planned trips to the U-853 was partially impacted by weather (WX). Saturday was blown out, but the four BAREG divers squeezed in two dives late Sunday afternoon. Conditions on the wreck were fair, with viz 10-15 feet and water T 48 degrees F.

U-1105 – 27 JUL
Four BAREG divers returned to the U-1105 for re-familiarization. Conditions on the wreck were excellent with viz about five feet on top of the tower and two feet at the mudline. Water T was 78 degrees F. These conditions are typical on the wreck as we move into late summer. This time of year also brings the sea nettles and some of the divers enjoyed getting a face full of tentacles at their deco stop.

U-853 – 10&11 AUG – Canx due to WX
Our planned second trip to the U-853 was blown out due to TS Debbie.

USS Katahdin – 10-12 AUG
Roger W., long-time BAREG member has been researching the USS Katahdin, an armored ram built in 1893 and sunk as a target in Chesapeake Bay in 1909. Three BAREG members participated in this multi-day effort which included a voyage down the Bay to Windmill Point and three nights at the Windmill Point Marina.

The Katahdin site is not charted as a wreck, nor is it identified as a naval vessel in NOAA’s AWOIS. Last year a sidescan sonar was installed on the M/V My Purpose Holds, the diveboat owned and operated by BAREG’s Ops Coordinator, and this was used to investigate several charted obstructions off Windmill Point. A linear feature was located S of Windmill Point and the target’s length was close to the 250-foot length overall of Katahdin. On the second day of the search, two divers, Brian W. and the Ops Coordinator, dove the site to look for features that would identify it as wreck, and specifically to identify it as Katahdin.

The target lies in 28 fsw and is surrounded by a sand and shell bottom. At first look the site appears to be a featureless Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) bar that is covered with the red beard sponge (Clathria prolifera), a saltwater species common to the lower Bay. However, the dive team found evidence of structure that indicated the oysters were attached to a wreck and had features in locations that matched drawings and photos of Katahdin. Most notably, the dive team found a relatively high relief section in the vicinity of Katahdin’s armored conn and bridge. Toward what has been determined to be the stern, the divers identified curved beams that were used to stow the ship’s boats (see photos).

Roger will make a presentation on the Katahdin at the 2025 symposium. BAREG intends to revisit the site to further document features and to use it as a training and skills refresher location.

Upcoming Events & Activities

U-869 – 25 AUG
Trip full

U-1105 Project Follow-on Dives – 31 AUG & 1 SEP

NAS Training – 5&6 OCT
Space available

Scapa Flow Trip – 27 OCT – 2 NOV
Trip full

Business meeting – 16 NOV
At this year’s annual business meeting we will hold our board election as the current five-year term is ending. Location is TBD.

Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) 2025 Conference (SHA) 8-11 JAN
BAREG is returning to SHA after a six-year hiatus. The PI for our 2021-2022 survey of the U-1105, funded by the Maryland Historical Trust, will make a presentation on the project. Additionally, we will have a poster presentation on BAREG’s first eleven years supporting maritime archaeology. The 2025 conference is being held in New Orleans.

Buoy Ops – 7&8 DEC
Open to experienced buoy ops divers.

2025 Symposium – 25 JAN (T)
The tentative date for the 2025 symposium is Saturday, 25 January. The location is TBD.