Scientists managed to study a wreckage of a sunken World War II barge that is located on the seabed at the entrance to the port in Kołobrzeg, northern Poland. The landing barge was possibly used in 1945 in evacuation of city’s citizens.

The wreckage was located about 1 nautical mile away to north-east from the entrance to the port. The vessel rests on the depth of 11-12 metres. Experts were able to create a digital 3D model of the wreckage. Exploration of the barge’s wreckage was a part of a larger project of surveying underwater archaeological sites at the Baltic coastal line around Kołobrzeg. The main aim of the project is to record historical sunken battleships and boats. The discovery of an almost 40-metre-long German landing barge is one of the highlights of the project. According to the archaeologists the vessel was possibly used in 1945 warfare. It may have been used to evacuate the besieged civilian population of Kołobrzeg from the Red Army. Vessels of this type were manufactured by Kriegsmarine, but the exact sub-type and serial number are yet undetermined as there were many variants used by Nazi navy during World War II on almost all fronts.

(after Muzeum Oręża Polskiego w Kołobrzegu, Gospodarkamorska.pl)