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Ss ThistlegormSS Thistlegorm was constructed by Joseph Thompson & Sons (Wearside, England), 128 m in length and 18 m wide. Although privately owned and therefore not classified as a naval vessel, this 5,000 tonne ship was armed with a 4 in (102 mm) anti aircraft gun and a heavy calibre machine gun attached after construction for war duty. Displaced 4,898 gross tonnes. Powered by a triple-expansion, 3 cylinder steam engine that generated a very comfortable nominal power of 365 hp (272 kW). She was one of a number of "Thistle" ships owned and operated by the Albyn Line. With her construction being part funded by the British Government, however, she was destined for "War" duties from the moment she was launched. The Thistlegorm set sail on her final voyage from Glasgow on June, 2 1941 destined for Alexandria. She was carrying supplies to relieve the 8th Army in preparation for, Operation Crusade. As the Germans controlled the Mediterranean sea during this period, the ship had to sail in a convoy across the cape until it reached the Red Sea. In September, Captain Ellis laid anchor north of the Straits of Gubal at what is now known as Shag Rock near Ras Mohammed National Park. The Suez Canal at that point was closed as a result of a ship collision. For two weeks the ship stood moored at this supposedly safe position awaiting instructions to proceed through the canal. Thistlegorm was a sitting target for two bombers returning from Crete. Allegedly they were searching for a large troop carrier when they ran low on fuel turned home and stumbled upon the Thistlegorm. They dropped two 1000 lb (450 kg) bombs directly onto the ship. These bombs penetrated No 4 Hold detonating a large amount of ammunition. The explosion was so forceful that it launched two railway carriages stacked on deck into the air. They currently stand upright alongside the wreck at a depth of 33 m. Thistlegorm sank immediately leaving no time for the crew to operate the life boats. Instead, they jumped into the water and were later rescued by the HMS Carlisle, another British ship moored nearby. In the early fifties Jacques Cousteau discovered her using information from local fishermen. He raised several items from the wreck - including one of the motorcycles, the Captains safe and the ships bell. The February 1956 edition of "National Geographic" clearly shows the ships bell in place and his Divers in the ships "Lantern Room". In the early 90's it was rediscovered by recreational divers and has become the most famous and most dived wreck. The massive explosion that sank her folded the top deck back on itself leave a wide open hole that makes the wreck very accessible to divers. The depth of around 30 m is also ideal for diving without the need for specialist equipment. When she sank she was carrying a wide range of supplies ranging from rubber boots to an armoured Rolls Royce. You can still see Bedford trucks, B.S.A motorbikes, Bren, ammunition, 303 rifles laid muzzle to butt. Unfortunately the wreck is rapidly disintegrating. Years of divers plundering the wreck for souvenirs has stripped Thistlegorm of all of the detail. Most of the trucks have lost their steering wheels for example. Also the dive boats that rely on the wreck for their livelihood are tearing the wreck apart by mooring the boats to weak parts of the wreck. This has lead to certain parts of the wreck collapsing. External links The Thistlegorm By Ned Middleton
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