In 1919, brought here by the US Navy as war booty, the UC-97 went on a tour of the United States waterways to promote Victory Bonds. Victory Bonds were issued as a means of immediately recuping some of the costs of prosecuting the war.
After a succesful tour of Wisconsin and Illinois ports of call, fulfillment of the Treaty required that she be sank within three years. After being hauled out for target practice in 1921, the USS Wilmette sent her to the bottom with her 4 inch guns, about 19 miles off shore from Wilmette, Il.
In 1977 she was rediscovered by the US Navy. In 1992 she was viewed by underwater camera, showing her to be well intact and upright on the bottom--her designation UC-97 still clearly visible. Will she ever rise again? Stay tuned.
Aside from the usual deck armament and a compliment of torpedos, this boat had a particular mission for which it was designed. The UC-97 is a minelaying submarine!
Was it sent here to disrupt the flow of shipping in and from America's heartland? Well, not exactly. But the real reason it lies waiting off Lake Michigan's shore is almost as interesting, especially since she waits there in fulfillment of the Treaty of Versailles!
