Emily Chan
The Trooper is sitting at a depth of about 830 feet. It is the eighth wartime submarine wreck that Planet Blue has come across in Greek waters.
Apparently, a large explosion had caused the sub to break apart in three sections—the bow, the midship, and the stern. It likely sank after hitting a German naval mine.
The find also confirms that the reported sighting of the vessel on October 14, 1943 was incorrect. Instead, the sighting was of another British submarine.
Even though the wreck was badly damaged, the researchers were able to identify it by comparing it to the original shipbuilding plans. An open hatch on the command tower indicated that the sub had been sailing on the surface when it ran into the mine.
The wreck has been left undisturbed since it is a war grave. Hopefully, the discovery can help bring closure to the families of those who died in the explosion.
“I hope that any family members of those lost with my father may be able to use the definitive location of Trooper as a focal point to help lay to rest any memories of their loved ones,” Captain Richard Wraith of the British Royal Navy and the son of the Trooper’s commander, Lieutenant John Wraith, said in a statement.
