German Ship Sunk in 1942 Found by Divers in Barents Sea

Specialists from the "Reconnaissance Diving Team" (RVK) discovered a German ship, sunk in 1942, in the Barents Sea and identified it as the "Utlandshörn". This was made possible by a bell found on board, which still bore the inscription Cartagena – the ship's name until 1939.

Built in 1927 in Hamburg, the ship was 105 m long and had a displacement of 4400 tons. From the beginning of World War II, the German fleet used it to supply troops in the Arctic. The last voyage of the "Utlandshörn" took place early in the morning of March 16, 1942: the practically empty steamer was sailing from Liinakhamari to Kirkenes under the escort of two patrol ships, but at the exit of the fjord, it hit a Soviet heavy KB mine, laid by boats MO-153 and MO-163. After the explosion, the ship rapidly sank, taking the lives of 19 people; 36 were saved.

The sinking of the "Utlandshörn" was the first victory of Soviet boats with mine weapons in the battle for the Arctic and opened the list of German ships sunk in the Pechenga area. Now the hull has completely collapsed, but underwater, the bow, stern with the propeller, and the debris of the fallen sides are clearly visible.

The RVK team will continue to work with archives and underwater footage to create a documentary, not ruling out that the object may attract divers and tourists in the