UB-88
WW I German Submarine UB-88
The German submarine UB-88 was surrendered to the Allies at Wilhemshaven at the end of the war on November 11, 1918. She was interred there for two weeks before being taken over by USN. A crew had been dispatched from the U.S., arriving in March 1919. LCDR Joseph J. Nielsen assumed command on March 23, 1919. She was sailed to Harwich, U.K. and fueled and provisioned for the voyage across the Atlantic. After arriving in the U.S. she was thoroughly examined by USN submarine engineers, then sent on a multi month bond drive around the U.S.
She visited a variety of ports, including New York City, Savannah, Miami, Key West, New Orleans, and up the Mississippi River as far as Memphis and St. Louis. After an upkeep period she proceeded to San Pedro California via the Panama Canal. From there she made visits to Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Francisco, Astoria, Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, and Bremerton. The bond drive was very successful and UB-88 drew crowds wherever she went. She finished her service to the USN in San Pedro and was decommissioned on November 1, 1920. She was sunk as a target on March 1, 1921 by the destroyer Wickes (DD-75).
All photos, except as noted, courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider, whose uncle, Harry Fields was a member of the post war prize crew.
Captions on the back of a number of the photos were by Harry Fields a member of the prize crew. Harry was a qualified submariner and served aboard the USS H-3 (SS-30) during WW I. The California Wreck Diver Association has also been very helpful in the construction of this web page and their help is gratefully acknowledged.
Before the UB-88 was sunk off of Los Angles, California by the USS Wikes all useful items were removed by the US Navy. A large amount of Brass and Bronze was among this. A lot was melted down and turned into these paperweights for officials to give away as favors. It has been estimated that between 4000 and 5000 of these were made. The whereabouts of most of these is now unknown.
UB-88 original paperweight in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
Page created by:
Ric Hedman & David Johnston
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