enigmas - and other recovered artefacts - of U-85, The

Cryptologia, Apr 2003 by Hamer, David H

In August of 1997, amateur diver Roy E. Parker [9], during his first exploration of U-85, recovered two oak boxes containing the spare wheels for two different Enigmas (Figure 2). A study of these wheels determined that U-85 had been carrying two Enigmas whose inventory numbers were M2946 and M3131. The boxes were recovered from a cabinet on the bulkhead adjacent to the captain's quarters (Figure 3). Each contained only the normal Enigma wheels used in both the M4 and its predecessor the M3. No Greek wheels were recovered then, but the serial numbers suggested that the Enigmas to which these wheels belonged were of the newly introduced variant, M49. Details of one of the wheels from M3131 can be seen in Figure 4 where the identification marks are clearly visible.

The recovered wheels were:

RECOVERY OF THE ENIGMAS

In June 2001 three divers (Figure 5) descended upon U-85. Jim Bunch and brothers Rich and Roger Hunting had each made numerous expeditions to the site [2] and to a number of other wrecks in the area but this time they intended to clear out 60 years of accumulated silt and debris that had hitherto prevented access to the all-important radio and sound (sonar) rooms (Figure 3). Over a period of approximately two weeks, using a purpose-built dredging device, they gained access to these two areas. Their task was rendered more difficult by the fact that U-85 has a list of 30-40 degrees to starboard. The first area to be cleared sufficiently was the sound room. This surrendered a large brass compass, a wooden box containing phonograph records and, of more significant cryptologic interest, a codebook and, on a later dive, a pad of message log sheets.

By 3 July 2001 the divers had cleared the radio room to the point that it could be entered safely and found Enigma M2946 lying on the deck in the center of the area. Nearby they found an electric typewriter (Figure 6) that on later examination proved to have been attached to the Enigma to print the output. This was preferable to the more usual copying by hand from the Enigma's lamp panel and was of particular convenience when considering both the confined space of the U-boat and the limitations on available manpower.

Two days later the wooden lid of M2946 was found and more importantly the entire wheel cage assembly of the second Enigma, M3131. Of poignant human, rather than cryptologic, interest was the discovery of two coffee cups and a Perrier water bottle. No human remains were recovered - the entire crew having left the boat prior to its sinking. U-85 therefore is not considered a war-grave site.

EXAMINATION OF THE ENIGMAS

M2946 as recovered is shown in Figure 7, and after washing in Figure 8. No lamps are visible in these photographs. Replacing the lamps is a large 26-pin 'plug' that connected the Enigma to the electric typewriter. This plug is similar to the one used with the Fernlesegerat, an extension lamp panel used by both the Heer and the Luftwaffe to provide a more convenient and secure way of reading Enigma's output.