When Operation Deadlight was began, the navy found that many of the U-boats were in extremely poor condition from being moored in exposed harbours while awaiting disposal.[1] These conditions issues, combined with poor weather, sank 56 of the boats before they reached the scuttling areas, and those that did reach the area were generally sunk by gunfire rather than explosive charges.[2] The first sinking took place on 17 November 1945 and the last on 11 February 1946.[2][3]