Shipwreck of USS Tampa, torpedoed by German U-boat in WW1, discovered off coast
A group of divers successfully located the remains of a World War I American naval ship that had sunk off the coast of Cornwall over a century ago. The US Coast Guard Cutter TAMPA was tragically torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1918, resulting in the loss of all 131 crew members. The Gasperados Dive Team discovered the wreckage approximately 50 miles away from Newquay after conducting thorough searches for three years.
Utilizing information from the UK Hydrographic Office, including seabed data, the team, consisting of skilled divers like Steve Mortimer, Jacob Mackenzie, James Gregory, Steve Green, Duncan Haywood, Chris Lowe, and Paul Downs, was able to pinpoint the location of the sunken ship. Additionally, they studied German records regarding the U-Boat responsible for the attack, dedicating their efforts to multiple diving expeditions to uncover the wreckage.
After their final search attempt on April 26, the Gasperados Dive Team made the remarkable discovery. Dominic Robinson, a member of the team, shared that their persistence paid off, as they were able to confidently confirm that they had located the TAMPA vessel. Describing the underwater scene, Robinson stated, “Most people think a shipwreck is a ship underwater, but the reality is it’s been underwater for 100 years in the Celtic Sea between Cornwall and Ireland, so it’s been smashed by storms and a 100 and odd years of decay.”
Detailing the condition of the ship, Robinson mentioned that they observed distinctive features such as anchors, boulders, the engine, guns, ammunition, and portholes, further identifying crockery marked with ‘New Jersey,’ linking the vessel to the United States. The TAMPA vessel had a significant role during World War I, tasked with protecting convoys from German submarines along the route between Gibraltar and England’s southern coast.
On the day of the tragic incident in 1918, TAMPA had left a convoy it was guarding when it was struck by a torpedo, vanishing without a trace in the misty weather. Despite previous unsuccessful search attempts due to the vague location of the wreckage, the Gasperados Dive Team’s expertise and perseverance ultimately led to the successful discovery. Recalling the challenging nature of deep-sea diving, Robinson highlighted the extreme conditions, with shipwrecks found up to 100 meters underwater requiring meticulous planning and execution.
Having presented their findings to the US Coast Guard, the Gasperados Dive Team received confirmation that they had indeed found the long-lost TAMPA vessel. This breakthrough, following three years of dedicated efforts and collaboration, highlights the ongoing significance of maritime exploration and historical preservation in uncovering the past.