Divers find wreck thought to be Royal Navy ship lost in wartime tragedy
A team of divers – known as the 'Gasperados' – believe they may have found one of six Royal Navy ships that were lost off Cornwall in a forgotten wartime tragedy.
In October 1944, half a dozen large landing craft were lost off Land's End, this was after a storm devastated their convoy, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 Royal Navy sailors.
Operating out of Newquay, the Gasperados divers at the westernmost tip of the English mainland at around 100 metres down, in an undisclosed location, came across the wreck – possibly an amphibious vessel.
The Royal Navy said the team sought the advice of Dr Harry Bennett, Associate Professor of History at Plymouth University to identify it.
To which the Dr suggested that it could be one of six Landing Craft Tanks (LCTs) lost while being towed to Asia in 1944 in anticipation of the planned invasion of Japan (Operation Downfall, scheduled for 1945/46).
According to the Royal Navy, the landing craft was never meant for such voyages – or rough weather; with the older LCTs not being able to withstand wind above Force 4, newer ones Force 6.
On October 18-19 1944, the convoy ran into an Atlantic storm off the Cornish peninsula with winds estimated at Force 9 – speeds of up to 55mph – and mountainous seas.
Six landing craft tanks – 480, 488, 491, 494, 7014 and 7015 – were lost at the height of the storm, going down with some or all of their crews.
Before the Gasperados discovery, nobody had seen any of the missing vessels since October 1944.
"As divers, we never take for granted that we might discover the final resting places of sailors who died fighting for our country," said 'Gasperado' Steve Mortimer.
He added: "We are privileged to suggest that we may have found the remains of LCT 488 or, if not that ship, then a similar craft from World War 2."
Dr Bennett added: "The tragic story of the lost convoy of LCTs which this wreck brings to the fore is a brutal reminder that in the midst of war, our mariners still had to contend with the old foes of unrelenting storms and the cruel sea to sometimes deadly effect."
Following the discovery there will be further diving and an investigation will be needed to formally identify the wreck.
The divers' work so far will be presented at the Guz.tech diving conference at Plymouth University on November 25.
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
