German WW2 minesweeper M85

This German minesweeper was built in 1918. It measured 56 meters length, 7.5 meters width. During September Campaign (09.1939) it was tasked with trawling the area around Hel peninsula, Poland in search for underwater mines. On the 1st. October 1939 it went on a mine set by polish navy submarine “ORP Żbik” (eng. “Wildcat”), broke in two pieces, and sank, taking 24 of its 51 crew underwater.

This wreck is very special, as M85 is the only ship sank by the Polish forces during Second World War’s September Campaign (invasion on Poland, that started the whole World War II). Poles defended bravely, destroying over 600 tanks, more than 5000 cars, and over 500 planes. But only one ship - the M85 minesweeper. Wreck lies on a respectable depth of 65 meters, north of Jastarnia, broken in two pieces that are some 15 meters apart.

This model was created all during one dive. Bottom time exceeded 70 minutes, total dive time 3.5 hours.

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