Mystery solved after Guernsey divers find missing German U-boat

The dive team located the resting place of the submarine and its 28 lost crew

A mystery has been "finally solved" after divers found the resting place of a missing German U-boat.

The vessel UC-18 was lost in 1917 after a battle with a secret Royal Navy ship, Lady Olive, which was also sunk.

It took a team four years to locate and verify the find in the English Channel, which has been filmed for a BBC documentary.

Underwater filmmaker Karl Taylor said he was "elated".

A UC class submarine and crew during World War One

The battle between UC-18 and Lady Olive is the only known altercation where a submarine and a Royal Navy ship sank each other.

In addition to the resting place of the submarine and its 28 lost crew, the dive team also located what they believe to be Lady Olive.

Mr Taylor said the project had been "very demanding" with deep dives in very low light.

The U-boat was eventually found at a depth of over 70m (230ft).

The team worked closely with U-boat expert and marine archaeologist Tomas Termote to identify the wreck which "remains in amazing condition".

Underwater filmmaker Karl Taylor said he was "elated" with the project

Original historical accounts reported the battle took place about 13km (eight miles) off the coast of Jersey, but the sunken vessels were finally discovered about 64km (40 miles) further west, Mr Taylor said.

He said two other wrecks were also discovered and identified during their extensive search.

All findings were passed to the French authorities and the German Navy.

The French authorities have since closed the UC-18's location to divers as it is a designated war grave.

Mr Taylor said "the circumstances of the sinkings had been an enduring mystery finally solved" and he hoped that the film would help people realise the sacrifices that all sides made during a "very turbulent period of European history".

The documentary film The Hunt for Lady Olive and the German Submarine is due to air on the BBC in June.