Awe-Inspiring Photos of Two WWII Ship Wrecks U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee

An underwater look at wrecks that rest only miles apart in the Gulf of Mexico.

ByABC News
July 14, 2014, 7:13 PM
The Robert E. Lee, a passenger steamer that was attacked en route from New Orleans to Trinidad, is seen in this image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video.
The Robert E. Lee, a passenger steamer that was attacked en route from New Orleans to Trinidad, is seen in this image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video.
Ocean Exploration Trust

— -- The SS Robert E. Lee and U-166 sunk within several minutes of one another during World War II. Take a look at the ship wrecks almost 72 years later, and follow Nautilus Live for more great footage.

This image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video shows the remains of the SS Robert E. Lee ship.
An anemone-covered gun on the remains of the SS Robert E. Lee is seen in this image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video.
The Robert E. Lee, a passenger steamer that was attacked en route from New Orleans to Trinidad, is seen in this image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video.
The anchor chains from the SS Robert E. Lee in this image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video.
The top deck of the SS Robert E. Lee is seen in an image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video.
Anemones grow on the remains of the SS Robert E. Lee in this image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video.
This image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video shows the conning tower on the U-166 U-boat which sank three ships in July, 1942.
This image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video shows the top gun on the U-166 U-boat which was destroyed by depth charges from the Robert E. Lee escort vehicle, PC-566.
Depth charges sank the U-166 U-boat which is now considered to be a war gravesite.
This image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video shows ocean life growing on top of the remains of the U-166 U-boat.
This image made from the "A Tale of Two Wrecks: U-166 and SS Robert E. Lee" video shows the gun on the U-166 U-boat which rests 1500 feet below the water's surface.

ABC News Live

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events