The Thistlegorm was a British merchant ship launched on April 9, 1940 and sunk on October 6, 1941 in the Red Sea, near the Sha'ab Ali reef, in the Gulf of Suez, western Sinai.
126 meters long and 18 meters wide, it sank practically intact except for the stern part. In fact, hold number 4 was loaded with ammunition and its explosion caused the hull to be dissected. In the early 1950s, Jacques-Yves Cousteau discovered its location but never revealed its coordinates. It was only in 1996, thanks to an Israeli skipper, that the wreck became a popular destination for many divers given the depth of about 31 meters at which it lies.
The wreck is also accessible inside, where there is still the load of supplies it was carrying, such as light tanks, weapons, ammunition, vans. The load is perfectly recognizable, despite the coral encrustations present
During 1941 it was of paramount importance for the British army, engaged in the North African campaign, to keep the supply lines open; obviously the English headquarters (Alexandria of Egypt) could not be reached through the Mediterranean, since despite the strong English presence (Malta and the Mediterranean coast of Egypt itself) the Axis forces would have had an easy life on the allied convoys. For this reason, the Atlantic route was necessary: ​​the circumnavigation of Africa, with a stopover in Cape Town, and the crossing of the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
The Thistlegorm had first been used on routes to America, making several supply trips, under the "Rent and Loan" law. In 1941 a large convoy left England for North Africa; after the usual technical stop in Cape Town, the convoy stops at the Sha'ab Ali coral reef, because the Royal Navy has to carry out mine clearance operations in the Suez Canal.
On the night between 5 and 6 October a group of German bombers attacking the Thistlegorm,which is hit by a single bomb, where explosives, ammunition for field howitzers, rifles, rubber boots were stored.
A fire broke out and the ammunition began to explode, and soon an explosion broke the ship in two pieces, sinking rapidly. The crew still had time to abandon ship, even though nine casualties had to be recorded.
The Thistlegorm was the only ship lost by the convoy, which was attacked again the following evening. The Luftwaffe lost a bomber.
The first takes you around the hull, from the large propeller (depth 33 meters) and the stern armed with two anti-aircraft pieces, up to the bow, passing through the captain's cabin (a visit to the bathtub is popular with guides). Two railway wagons and two minesweepers are stowed on the foredecks; two locomotives, carried by the Thistlegorm, were hurled by the explosion several meters from the wreck. The large anchor winch is interesting.
The stern area, devastated by the blast, is a confused mass of materials: cables, ammunition boxes (105mm howitzers) and two BREN Carrier Mark III light tanks.
The second dive, after an appropriate and appropriate surface interval, leads to the penetration of the holds of the wreck. Holds 1 and 2 (bow) are occupied by a number of Morris cars, Bedford trucks, BSA pneumatic motorcycles, field generators, aircraft parts (presumably Hawker Hurricane), cots, cases of Lee-Enfield MK III rifles, boots of rubber. In hold 1, below, two armored Rolls-Royces, whose trademarks have been removed. The maximum depth that can be reached inside the holds is about 25 meters.
126 meters long and 18 meters wide, it sank practically intact except for the stern part. In fact, hold number 4 was loaded with ammunition and its explosion caused the hull to be dissected. In the early 1950s, Jacques-Yves Cousteau discovered its location but never revealed its coordinates. It was only in 1996, thanks to an Israeli skipper, that the wreck became a popular destination for many divers given the depth of about 31 meters at which it lies.
The wreck is also accessible inside, where there is still the load of supplies it was carrying, such as light tanks, weapons, ammunition, vans. The load is perfectly recognizable, despite the coral encrustations present
During 1941 it was of paramount importance for the British army, engaged in the North African campaign, to keep the supply lines open; obviously the English headquarters (Alexandria of Egypt) could not be reached through the Mediterranean, since despite the strong English presence (Malta and the Mediterranean coast of Egypt itself) the Axis forces would have had an easy life on the allied convoys. For this reason, the Atlantic route was necessary: ​​the circumnavigation of Africa, with a stopover in Cape Town, and the crossing of the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
The Thistlegorm had first been used on routes to America, making several supply trips, under the "Rent and Loan" law. In 1941 a large convoy left England for North Africa; after the usual technical stop in Cape Town, the convoy stops at the Sha'ab Ali coral reef, because the Royal Navy has to carry out mine clearance operations in the Suez Canal.
On the night between 5 and 6 October a group of German bombers attacking the Thistlegorm,which is hit by a single bomb, where explosives, ammunition for field howitzers, rifles, rubber boots were stored.
A fire broke out and the ammunition began to explode, and soon an explosion broke the ship in two pieces, sinking rapidly. The crew still had time to abandon ship, even though nine casualties had to be recorded.
The Thistlegorm was the only ship lost by the convoy, which was attacked again the following evening. The Luftwaffe lost a bomber.
The wreck dive
Diving, given the particular conditions that often occur on the site (strong current or poor visibility), should be reserved for experienced divers in possession of an advanced certification. Normally the visit of the wreck is carried out in two dives.
The first takes you around the hull, from the large propeller (depth 33 meters) and the stern armed with two anti-aircraft pieces, up to the bow, passing through the captain's cabin (a visit to the bathtub is popular with guides). Two railway wagons and two minesweepers are stowed on the foredecks; two locomotives, carried by the Thistlegorm, were hurled by the explosion several meters from the wreck. The large anchor winch is interesting.
The stern area, devastated by the blast, is a confused mass of materials: cables, ammunition boxes (105mm howitzers) and two BREN Carrier Mark III light tanks.
The second dive, after an appropriate and appropriate surface interval, leads to the penetration of the holds of the wreck. Holds 1 and 2 (bow) are occupied by a number of Morris cars, Bedford trucks, BSA pneumatic motorcycles, field generators, aircraft parts (presumably Hawker Hurricane), cots, cases of Lee-Enfield MK III rifles, boots of rubber. In hold 1, below, two armored Rolls-Royces, whose trademarks have been removed. The maximum depth that can be reached inside the holds is about 25 meters.
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