Wreck of HMS Thistle found

[Platon Alexiades]

The wreck of the submarine HMS Thistle has been found at a depth of 170 metres. See:

https://www.hi.no/en/hi/news/2023/october/unknown-submarine-wreck-world-war-2

https://www.tv2.no/spesialer/nyheter/british-submarine-from-wwii-found-after-83-years-off-the-coast-of-norway?fbclid=IwAR2U5MfaohbtFTJk_ofV3Njtd9SlW-Z2ZMuCOVcF2t0FMdW7e6hmghHba1c

https://news.sky.com/video/wreck-of-british-wwii-submarine-hms-thistle-found-near-norway-after-83-years-12986230

The submarine (Lt. Cdr. W.F. Haselfoot, RN) was lost on 10 April 1940 when she was torpedoed by the German U 4 (OL Hans-Peter Hinsch). The British submarine had first sighted the U-boat in the afternoon of 9 April and, at 1604 (British time, one hour behind German time), fired six torpedoes but missed. The U-boat observed one torpedo missing just ten metres ahead. During the night, as HMS Thistle was recharging her batteries, she was sighted by the U-boat. At 0157 U 4 fired one G7a torpedo from a range of 600 metres and missed. At 0213/10 a G7e torpedo was fired from 400 metres and blew up the British submarine. Position was German grid AN 2989 l.u.E. (or approximately 59°09' N, 05°06' E). There were no survivors, 5 officers and 48 ratings perished.

Initially, there were some doubts as to the identity of the wreck as another British submarine had been lost in the area. This was HMS Oxley sunk in error by HMS Triton on 10 September 1939 in 58°35' N, 05°20.5' E. There were some doubts as to the exact position as one of the two submarines had made a navigation error and entered the other's patrol area. Examination by ROV has apparently identified the wreck as undoubtedly that of HMS Thistle.

Platon

[t-geronimo]

Thank you for the information! 

[Darius]

Thank you, Platon.


 

Darius