An incredible discovery has surfaced from the depths of history: a British submarine from World War II, which vanished during a covert mission in 1943, has finally been located off the coast of Greece.
The wreck of HMS Trooper was found by a private deep-sea research company, resting 830 feet beneath the surface.
This revelation brings an end to an 81-year-long mystery regarding the submarine’s fate.
Details of the Wreck
The HMS Trooper, measuring 275 feet in length, is split into three distinct sections.
Costas Thoktaridis, the owner of Planet Blue, the firm responsible for the find, shared that the separation into the bow, middle section, and stern indicates the submarine experienced a violent sinking, likely due to a mine explosion.
This devastating detail sheds light on the circumstances surrounding its tragic loss.
Closure for Families
The discovery is particularly significant for the families of the crew members, which included British submariners and an Australian volunteer, Lieutenant John Stuart Ryder, who was just 22 years old at the time.
Richard Wraith CBE, a Royal Navy captain and son of the HMS Trooper’s captain, expressed his relief and joy at the news.
He highlighted the tireless efforts of the search team, saying, “I have known for many years the painstaking effort of the search team to locate the wreck of the submarine, and now I am very pleased and excited that their efforts were rewarded.”
Wraith hopes this definitive finding will provide some solace to the families mourning their loved ones.
A Moving Moment
George Malcolmson, the former director of the British Royal Navy’s Archive of the Royal Submarine Museum, expressed his deep emotion upon hearing the news.
He acknowledged the significance of the team’s achievement in solving this long-standing mystery.
The Last Mission
HMS Trooper was launched in October 1943 for a patrol mission between Donoussa islet and Ikaria after British intelligence warned that the Nazis might attempt a new landing at Leros.
The submarine was ordered to return to Beirut by October 17 but never surfaced and was subsequently reported missing.
It was presumed to have been struck by a German mine in the Aegean Sea, likely near Leros.
Ongoing Search Efforts
The hunt for the missing submarine began in 2000, but over 14 searches in the Dodecanese region yielded no results.
Search efforts were concentrated in the known German minefields around Leros, Kalymnos, and Kos.
Ultimately, the wreck was found between Ikaria and Kos, believed to have been destroyed by a mine laid just days before by the German minesweeper “Drache.”
What’s Next?
As the dust settles from this discovery, many are left wondering about the next steps for the families and the ongoing interest in World War II history.
The recovery of artifacts and documentation from the wreck could provide further insights into the events surrounding HMS Trooper’s final mission, and the memories of those who served aboard it may finally receive the tribute they deserve.