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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_03_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg?w=1600)
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.
![PHOTO: 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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_01_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)
![PHOTO: 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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_02_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)
![PHOTO: 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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_03_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)
![PHOTO: 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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_04_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)
![PHOTO: 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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_05_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)
![PHOTO: 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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_06_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)
![PHOTO: 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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_07_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)
![PHOTO: 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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_08_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)
![PHOTO: Depth charges sank the U-166 U-boat which is now considered to be a war gravesite.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_09_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)
![PHOTO: 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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_10_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)
![PHOTO: 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.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Photos/ht_nautilus_wrecks_robert_e_lee_u-166_11_jc_140714_16x9_992.jpg)