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Thistlegorm Wreck

    Wreck information

  • Nationality: British
  • Type of wreck: cargo ship
  • Year of construction: 1940
  • Date of sinking: air raid, October 6th, 1941
  • Length: 131 metres
  • Tonnage: 9000 tons

    • Diving information

  • Visibility: good
  • Current: weak
  • Depth: 30 metres
  • Recommended depth: 20 metres
  • Dive difficulty: medium/difficult
  • Inside visit: ok
  • Biological interests: Barracuda, moray eels, napoleons, soft corals, tree soft corals 

    • Wreck Picture

  • Relitto Thistlegorm

Wreck Description

This cargo ship, whose Gaelic name means "Blue thistle", was carrying a precious cargo of munitions and supplies for the British Eighth Army, engaged at that time in Operation Crusade, a major offensive launched by Montgomery and his men against the troops of General Rommel. The dramatic sequence of events - the explosion, abandoning ship and the sinking itself - is still vividly recalled by Harry Bansall, the ship's third engine-room officer. The Thistlegorm has been bombed during the night of October 5th, 1941 and in the pages of the memorial written by Harry Bansall has decrypted the terrifying set when in the hold boxes of light ammunitions and hand grenades were exploding like fireworks. Great tongues of fire shot skywards and the men were still climbing on board when a tremendous explosion broke the Thistlegorm in two by the blast, as it sank. Five gunners and four sailors had gone down with the cargo. Nowadays is possible to see 2 big torpedos, different cars, motorcycles, jeep, pneumatics and uniforms for the troops.