Divers from the Gasperados Dive Team have discovered the wreck of the US Coastguard Cutter TAMPA, lost since 1918, 50 miles off Newquay, Cornwall. All 131 lives were lost when the ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat. The discovery follows a three-year search and has been confirmed by the US Coastguard.
A remarkable discovery has been made off the Cornish coast: the wreck of the US Coastguard Cutter TAMPA , a World War I vessel lost for 108 years.
The ship, which sank in 1918 after being torpedoed by a German U-boat, was located by the Gasperados Dive Team approximately 50 miles offshore from Newquay. Tragically, all 131 individuals aboard – comprising American naval personnel, Coast Guardsmen, and British civilians – perished in the disaster.
The Gasperados team, led by Steve Mortimer and including members Jacob Mackenzie, James Gregory, Steve Green, Duncan Haywood, Chris Lowe, and Paul Downs, dedicated three years to the search, meticulously analyzing UK Hydrographic Office seabed data and German U-boat records. Their final attempt on April 26th proved successful. The search wasn't simply about pinpointing a location; it was about identifying a site ravaged by over a century of submersion in the challenging Celtic Sea.
Dominic Robinson, a member of the team, explained the wreck's deteriorated state, noting the impact of storms and decay. The team focused on identifying key features like anchors, the engine, weaponry, and distinctive elements such as crockery bearing the inscription 'New Jersey,' providing a crucial link to the ship's American origins. The TAMPA had been assigned the vital role of escorting convoys between Gibraltar and the south coast of England, protecting them from German submarine attacks.
On September 26, 1918, shortly after detaching from a convoy, the ship was struck by a torpedo in misty conditions and vanished without a trace. The US Coastguard has maintained a vessel named TAMPA in service continuously since this loss, underscoring the ship's historical significance. The discovery involved 'extreme' diving conditions, with the wreck lying at a depth of 320 feet.
Divers spent approximately 20 minutes on the seabed, followed by a lengthy 2.5-hour decompression process to safely return to the surface. The Gasperados team has presented their findings, including video and photographic evidence, to the US Coastguard, who have expressed confidence in the identification of the wreck as the TAMPA. This discovery represents not just a single team's effort, but the culmination of years of research and previous dives undertaken by others.
The TAMPA was 205 feet in length and equipped with four 3-inch guns and two 6-pounder guns for defense. The loss included 111 Coast Guardsmen, 4 US Navy personnel, and 16 British citizens, making this a poignant moment for remembrance and historical closure
WWI Shipwreck TAMPA US Coastguard Cornwall Divers
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Future holiday horror: ‘A robot lost my luggage in Tokyo’: Haneda airport will start testing humanoid robots, because everything that gets a plane flying was designed for our species
Read more »
Woman's 'husband noticed' she got 'back look lost with age' with £16 makeupThe £16 e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter is an affordable skincare and makeup hybrid that gives users a glowy complexion.
Read more »
'I thought I was living in my dream home but lost £8k in renting scam'Anna Gonzalez thought she'd found her dream home, but soon realised that things weren't as they seemed
Read more »
Marilyn Monroe's Lost Interview and Untold Stories Revealed After 62 YearsNewly discovered photographs and transcripts from a 1962 LIFE magazine session offer an unprecedented look into the life and thoughts of Marilyn Monroe, released in the year she would have turned 100.
Read more »
Long-lost Morecambe and Wise episode to air on BBC for Eric Morecambe's 100th birthdayA previously lost episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show will broadcast on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer on 14 May, marking what would have been Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday. The episode, rediscovered by Film Is Fabulous!, features sketches by Sid Green and Dick Hills, performances by Ann Hamilton and Jenny Lee-Wright, and a musical act by The Paper Dolls. BBC Archives and Eric Morecambe's daughter expressed excitement over the rediscovery.
Read more »
'We lost our home but not our identity' - Shakhtar Donetsk eye European successShakhtar Donetsk go into their Uefa Conference League semi-final tie against Crystal Palace on Thursday hoping to make their country proud.
Read more »