 |
|
| Science Forum Index » Military - Naval Forum » Pieces of WWII-era UK warship apparently found: HMS... |
|
Page 1 of 1 |
|
| Author |
Message |
| Jack Linthicum... |
 Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:25 am |
|
|
|
Guest
|
Pieces of WWII-era UK warship apparently found
By LLAZAR SEMINI (AP) – 2 hours ago
TIRANA, Albania — Pieces of a British destroyer that was badly damaged
by Albanian mines in 1946, straining relations between the two
countries for decades, appear to have been discovered in a waterway
near Greece, U.S. and Albanian researchers said Monday.
The wreckage was found 50 yards (meters) under water in the Corfu
Channel between the Albanian mainland and the Greek island of Corfu.
It is believed to be a section of the bow of the British destroyer HMS
Volage, the researchers said.
Forty-four sailors died in the mine explosions that damaged the Volage
and another British Navy destroyer, the HMS Saumarez. Both ships
suffered extensive damage but reached Corfu for repairs.
The incident halted talks between Communist Albania and Britain on
restoring diplomatic ties that were broken earlier that year. The two
countries only formally re-established ties in 1991.
"While largely obscured by mud, the remains show steel frames,
electrical wiring, ammunition, stacks of ceramic plates, a British
canteen and the remains of boots or shoes," said James Delgado,
president of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, who was part of
the international team of experts. The institute is nonprofit research
body affiliated with Texas A&M University.
The discovery was part of an effort to create an underwater cultural
heritage map of the Albanian coastline and is being coordinated by the
Key West, Florida-based RPM Nautical Foundation and aided by Albanian
authorities.
The artifacts are to be raised and analyzed for confirmation, "but the
nature of the finds strongly suggest ... this was where HMS Volage hit
the mine that tore off its bow," Delgado said. "The area of Volage
blasted off by the mine was forward of the deck guns and included the
forward mess, where some of the crew ate and slept, as well as storage
compartments. The dishes, shoes and ammunition are evidence that fit."
The wreckage, which lies off the Albanian port of Saranda, 185 miles
(300 kilometers) south of Tirana, the country's capital, was examined
by a remote-controlled submarine carrying three cameras.
The British sailors' deaths started a dispute between Britain and
Albania that lasted 45 years.
Albania refused to pay Britain damages awarded by the International
Court of Justice at The Hague. Britain retaliated by blocking the
release of Albanian gold seized by the Nazis during World War II. The
claims were settled in 1992 and 1996 agreements, under which ownership
of most of the gold was returned to Albania.
The researchers said a report on the ship's discovery and supporting
footage had been sent to the Albanian and British governments. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:43 pm
|
|