SS Thistlegrom - Sinking 1941

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by spidge, Sep 21, 2006.

  1. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Nine MM's lost their lives, should it be a dive museum?

    According to other information, the ship carried 9,000 tonnes of munitions.


    The Story of the Thistlegrom
    [​IMG]
    The Thistlegorm was launched on the 9th of April 1940. Its name means ‘blue thistle', and it was a British transport ship, 126.5 metres long with the capacity of 4,898 tons (9,009 displacement tons), and had a three cylinder steam engine developing 1,860 HP, that gave the vessel a speed of around 10 knots.
    In May 1941, a crew of 39 men left on the Thistlegorm from Glasgow , with a cargo including munitions, bombs, anti-tank mines, Lee Enfield MK II rifles, BSA motorcycles, Morris and Ford trucks, tanks and even two steam locomotives. Two German bombers coming from the German airbase in Crete, sighted the Thistlegorm as it sat in the Strait of Gubal , awaiting the clearance of German mines in the Suez Canal .
    They attacked the Thistlegorm. Two bombs hit the fourth hold, where the munitions deposits were situated. The resulting explosion tore the ship in two, whilst catapulting the two 126 ton locomotives, despite being tied to the deck, into the air. The crew and Captain were rescued by the HMS Carlisle, but nine men lost their lives during the attack.
    The wreck was discovered by, or course, Jacques Cousteau in 1955, and later appeared in the National Geographic in 1956. Cousteau did not reveal the position of the wreck, and it went forgotten for almost 40 years until 1992 when it was rediscovered by an Israeli skipper.
    The Ship Today
    The SS Thistlegorm sits mast and funnel above all others shipwrecks. Such is the pulling power of this single vessel that she attracts more Divers than any other underwater site - anywhere in the entire world! Since being re-discovered in the early nineties, the Thistlegorm has consistently remained "The World’s Foremost Diving Attraction" and after my own very first visit, I found myself calling her "The Mighty Thistlegorm!"
    What makes this ship so extra-special is a combination of several factors. Despite extensive damage aft of the Bridge, the main section is upright and on an even keel. Then, there is the story of her passing, with all it’s ingredients of War, Heroism and Tragedy - something that is never re-created in any vessel deliberately sunk. Lest we forget, even the Titanic would have passed into obscurity were it not for the manner of her sinking! Then, prevailing conditions and accessibility all come into play. These include an acceptable climate, relatively warm waters, very good underwater visibility and a maximum depth of just 32 metres to the seabed.
    What more could be asked of any shipwreck you might ask - and the word "Cargo" springs to mind. Within the Thistlegorm, that cargo is a veritable underwater "World War II Museum."
     
  2. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Are manifests such as those from the Thistlegorm accesible ? My reason for asking, as a one-make fanatical motorcycle enthusiast is that reference is always made to a consignment of BSAs, but some of the machines visible in dive photos appearing on the web are clearly Norton 16Hs. I would be fascinated to know just how many were lost.
     
  3. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    They would have to be avalable somewhere.

    With reference to the bike cargo, I read that there are virtually no badges left on the bikes as they are the easiest get for the divers as a momento.
     
  4. deadb_tch

    deadb_tch the deadliest b#tch ever

  5. deadb_tch

    deadb_tch the deadliest b#tch ever

    Scheme of SS Thistlegorm at this days:
    [​IMG]
     
  6. deadb_tch

    deadb_tch the deadliest b#tch ever

    And finally this amazing foto archive of SS Thistlegorm's divers: Thistlegorm

    Here is samples:
    http://diveinstructor.com.ua/index.php?option=com_datsogallery&Itemid=34&func=wmark&mid=324
    http://diveinstructor.com.ua/index.php?option=com_datsogallery&Itemid=34&func=wmark&mid=309
     
  7. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    Remembering the 4 Merchant seaman & 5 Royal Navy gunners who died on the Thistlegorm

    Chris
     
  8. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Remembering the 4 Merchant seaman & 5 Royal Navy gunners who died on the Thistlegorm
    Chris

    Yes, as far as I am concerned this should be a War Grave and shouldn't be tampered with. I have seen some very tasteless photos of divers interfering with this wreck.

    Lest we forget the nine.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
  9. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    Hugh

    my feelings too

    Chris
     
  10. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The important thing is surely what the divers do ? The whole of Western Europe is one huge war grave really and many of us have stood silently and looked across the battlefields of WW1. It all changes if we start looting.

    Ironically, if it wasn't for the divers and the widely posted images, the lost crew would be almost forgotten along with the many others lost in minor actions.

    It's a fine line.
     
  11. deadb_tch

    deadb_tch the deadliest b#tch ever

    Among everything it is better when someone would learn about WW2 at least by this ship... At least in this way he/she would feel the war. And in addition of course without divers we will never know about this ship and many of others.. That's my imho.
     
  12. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    The important thing is surely what the divers do ? The whole of Western Europe is one huge war grave really and many of us have stood silently and looked across the battlefields of WW1. It all changes if we start looting.

    I agree with you, but unfortunately many divers do remove parts of the ship and the cargo. I have seen photos of THISTLEGORM which I view as desecration.

    Ironically, if it wasn't for the divers and the widely posted images, the lost crew would be almost forgotten along with the many others lost in minor actions. It's a fine line.

    The Merchant Navy (the forgotten fourth service) suffered horrendous casualties during WWII. They were badly treated and received very little recognition for their sacrifice during WWII. The Battle of the Atlantic lasted from the first day of the war until the last, and for the merchant seamen there was no Phoney War.

    I think the families of those who lost their lives on THISTLEGORM and other ships would expect that divers respect their graves. Unfortunately, with some divers who dive on THISTLEGORM, this is not the case.

    My posting is not aimed at those divers who look but don't touch and are respectful of those who have gone before and paid the ultimate price.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
  13. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    The following is taken from 'Britain's Sea War' - John M. Young.

    6 October 1941 the cargo ship Thistlegorm 4,989 tons (Allan Black & Co) was at anchor in the Gulf of Suez when she was bombed by aircraft. The ship, carrying 15-inch naval shells among her cargo, was set on fire and blew up.
     

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