Operation Deadlight

Forty-two surrendered U-boats moored at Lisahally, Northern Ireland, June 1945
Polish Navy destroyer ORP Krakowiak towing German Type XXIII U-boat U-2337 out to sea for scuttling on 28 November 1945

Operation Deadlight was the code name for the Royal Navy operation of November 1945 – February 1946 to scuttle German U-boats surrendered to the Allies after the defeat of Germany near the end of World War II. After the surrender, political discussions continued between the Allies concerning the final disposal of the surviving German naval vessels, the result of which was an agreement to retain 30 U-Boats in total, to be divided equally between the UK, the USA and the USSR. The remainder would be scuttled.