 S / S Thistlegorm anchor winch | |
| S / S Thistlegorm سفينة زيستل جورم | |
| Governorate | South Sinai |
|---|---|
| height | -30 |
no value for height on Wikidata:  | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | |
The steamship steam ship) S / S Thistlegorm (Arabic:سفينة زيستل جورم, Safīnat Thistlegorm, „Ship Thistlegorm“) Was a British cargo ship that was only on its fourth voyage during World War II with a cargo of military equipment in Gulf of Suez was sunk by German bombers southeast of the reef Scha'b 'Ali. It is the most significant, even for scuba diver accessible wreck in the Red Sea and at the same time war memorial.
background
The 126 m long and 17.7 m wide S / S Thistlegorm (Gaelic for Blue thistle, the heraldic plant of the shipping company) was in 1940/1 by the shipyard Joseph Thompson & Son for the British shipping company Albyne Line built. It was launched on April 9, 1940. Its tonnage was 4.9 GRT, its draft 7.45 m. A steam engine with two boilers with a maximum output of 1850 hp (1354 kW) gave the ship a speed of 10.5 knots .
The S / S Thistlegorm was to make its fourth voyage as part of the military operation Crusader lead to Sinai. The aim of this military operation was to advance British and allied troops to the north Libya, in the Cyrenaica. For this, the 8th Army of the Royal Army needed both additional troops and war material. Since the Mediterranean was controlled by German and Italian troops, the sea route around it had to be Cape of Good Hope in association with twenty ships. On June 2, 1941, the ship left the port of Glasgow with a crew of 39 and a considerable cargo: two steam locomotives Stanier 8F with tender and water wagon, weapons and ammunition of different calibers, Vickers Universai Carrier-Tanks, various troop transport vehicles (Ford WOT2, WOT3, WOT1, Bedford MW, Bedford OY, Tilling Stevens TS-19), Motorcycles (BSA M-20, Matchless G3L, Norton 16H), Aircraft parts, supplies and spare parts.
The ships had almost reached their destination, but had to because of a blockage of the Suez Canal wait ten days here near the Scha'b 'Ali. Perhaps the crew was distracted to recognize the danger in time. On October 6, 1941, two bombers rose Heinkel HE 111 of Kampfgeschwader KG 26 (Lions Squadron) of the German Air Force to bomb a suspected Australian troop transport. It was only later that it was learned that this transport had missed out on time. The transport of materials was discovered on the return flight. The S / S Thistlegorm was hit and sunk by a 2000 kg bomb, a special bomb for anti-ship combat, in the area of the fourth cargo hold in the stern section. Further destruction was caused by exploding ammunition and the exploding boiler of the steam engine. Nine crew members lost their lives. Since the bomber was flying low over the ship, it could no longer be fought from the ship. Nevertheless, neither of the two bombers returned regularly: one of the two bombers could still be shot down and its crew taken prisoner, the second had to make an emergency landing.
Even if flowers were laid for the dead every year, the location of the wreck was unknown for a long time. It was not until 1955 that the wreck was taken by the French diver Jacques-Yves Cousteau discovered and the safe secured. The position of the ship was kept secret. Published in 1956 National Geographic a photo of the discovery. It was rediscovered in 1974, but even then it was again forgotten. In 1991 it was found again as part of a systematic search by German recreational divers. Since then it has been frequently visited by recreational divers, which is certainly also due to its shallow depth.
getting there
The journey can only be made by ship. Divers either use yachts for day trips or choose this destination on a liveaboard. Self Sharm esch-Sheikh is relatively far away. For day boats this means a journey time of a good four hours; these boats usually leave at 5 a.m. Divers on safari boats do not have this time pressure; you can already or still dive when the day boats are still or again underway.
Tourist Attractions
Overview of the site
Due to the size of the S / S Thistlegorm you need several dives to get an overview.
The Thistlegorm is approximately 14 m (upper part of the bow) to 30 m (lower part of the stern) depth. The detached stern section is inclined by about 45 ° to port. The bow area with the anchor winch, the front and the second hold, the navigating bridge are almost intact. Cargo hold 3 only contained coal. The next hold is almost completely destroyed; You can still find tanks, remains of ammunition and the destroyed drive axle of the ship. The anti-aircraft cannon and a 40 mm machine gun are still present at the rear.
A water car and a tender are located on both sides of holds 1 and 2. The two locomotives were torn from the ship by the explosion and are now some distance away on both sides of the ship.
Dive planning
- Anyone who meets the night before on a diving safari can get an initial overview at a relatively shallow depth of 15 to 20 m from the bow section. These include the rooms in the bow section, water car and tender, the anchor winch, various deck structures and a “cursory” view of the cargo holds. There is certainly time to turn to the underwater fauna. There are numerous fish here, especially in the evening hours. And corals have already taken possession of the Thistlegorm.
- The first dive of the day should be devoted to circling the ship in a clockwise direction, as you get to depths of around 28 to 30 m. The ship's rudder and propeller, the stern armament, remains of ammunition and, in the area of storage room 4, two tanks and the ends of the interrupted drive shaft can be viewed. The position of one of the two locomotives can usually be made out on the port side. After the navigating bridge you reach the bow section again.
- The next dive is the most exciting for many: the visit to holds 1 and 2. The dive leads to a depth of up to 25 m. Since holds 1 and 2 are separated by a metal wall on the lower level, the dive begins on the lower level Level in hold 2. From here you can get to the level above and inspect both holds. They contain large amounts of military equipment.
Diving safety
A dive to the S / S Thistlegorm is not without risks, even if they are manageable.
Dives at the S / S Thistlegorm are difficult Dives. The diver should have some experience. As a minimum, you should have trained as an “Advanced Open Water” diver.
The current, especially on the surface of the water, can be very high. Therefore, ropes are usually stretched to the bow of the Thistlegorm, on which the divers can lower themselves or rise again. It is not uncommon for divers to hang pennants in the wind on this rope in the current. The current decreases towards the wreck, but it is still there. Most of the time the current runs in the direction from bow to stern.
The dive and bottom times are quite long. Allow around 50 minutes for a single dive. The great diving depth makes the use of nitrox (enriched air) gas mixtures with an oxygen content of 28 to 32 vol% appear sensible. This mixture is available from all well-known organizers, but special training is required to use it. For divers who underestimate their air consumption, a nitrox bottle with a machine is attached to the descent line at a depth of approx. 5 m.
The space between the cargo and the ceiling of the cargo holds is small, around 1 m. Before entering the cargo hold, one should be carefully tared. When swimming through the holds you should avoid whirling up the mud with your fins. Subsequent divers could thus be blocked from sight. The holds are big enough to get lost. It is therefore advisable to be guided by a local diver.
If you suffer from claustrophobia, you should not visit the cargo hold.
It is advisable to bring a diving lamp with you.
It is to be expected that the progressive corrosion can lead to break-ins, especially on the deck. The ammunition has not yet decomposed and may still be functional.
It is strictly forbidden to take objects, especially weapons of war, with you!
taking photos
Due to the sometimes short distances to the objects, a wide-angle lens should be taken with you. The use of flashlights is required in the holds.
You should experiment a little for recordings on deck. It is quite possible that the use of the flashlight is prohibited due to the sediments and plankton being blown up. You need a steady hand to take pictures without the flash.
literature
- : SS Thistlegorm. Koenigswinter: Heel, 2004, Wreck diving in the Red Sea; 1, ISBN 978-3-89880-356-4 .
- : SS Thistlegorm: History and Fate of an Unfortunate Ship. 2002, Wrecks in the Red Sea; 1, ISBN 978-977-17-0607-6 . Available in Egypt.
- : Sinai Diving Guide: Part 1; German edition. Verona: Geodia, 2005, ISBN 978-88-87177-66-4 . Dive site 36.
- : The lion's trail. The way of the lion squadron through Europe. Lübeck: Self-published, 2012, ISBN 978-3-00-038734-0 .
Web links
- SS Thistlegorm by John Kean
