World War II Submarine Discovered in Aegean Sea

The news in Greek

1. υποβρύχιο (n.)
   ένα σκάφος που κινείται υπό το νερό ↩︎
2. θάλασσα (f.)
   το μεγάλο υδάτινο σώμα που καλύπτει την επιφάνεια της γης ↩︎
3. εντοπίζω
   βρίσκω κάτι που ήταν χαμένο ή κρυμμένο ↩︎
4. υποβρύχιο (n.)
   ένα σκάφος που κινείται υπό το νερό ↩︎
5. νάρκη (f.)
   εκρηκτική συσκευή που τοποθετείται στο έδαφος ή στο νερό ↩︎
6. ανακάλυψη (f.)
   η πράξη της εύρεσης κάτι καινούργιου ή που ήταν άγνωστο ↩︎
7. ναύτης (m.)
   άνθρωπος που εργάζεται σε πλοίο ή στο ναυτικό ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: What was the name of the submarine discovered in the Aegean Sea?

Question: How did the submarine sink?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
υποβρύχιο (n.)	submarine
εντοπίζω	locate
θάλασσα (f.)	sea
νάρκη (f.)	mine
ανακάλυψη (f.)	discovery
ναύτης (m.)	sailor

Read the full story

The HMS TROOPER disappeared while on a secret mission during World War II, and it was initially believed to have been lost in the vicinity of the Dodecanese islands. However, the new location confirms its sinking due to a mine explosion in the Icarian Sea, far from its intended patrol area. This finding rewrites historical narratives around the submarine’s final mission.

According to George Malcolmson, former director of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum Archives, the exact location of the wreck provides a poignant resolution for the families of the 64 crew members who never returned. He remarked on the significance of knowing the final resting place of these men who “made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Richard Wraith, son of the submarine’s commander, expressed his relief and excitement over the successful conclusion of the years-long search. He hopes the discovery will offer a symbolic closure for those families affected by the tragedy.

The submarine’s remains were discovered split into three sections, indicating a violent sinking, likely caused by a type of German mine known as the EMF. No interference or disturbance of the wreckage occurred during the investigation, as it remains a watery grave for its crew, including volunteer Australian officer, Lieutenant John Stuart Ryder.

The HMS TROOPER had set out from Beirut for its eighth patrol mission on 26 September 1943. On its final night, the submarine successfully completed a covert operation, disembarking agents and supplies onto Greek territory. Tragically, it was this mission’s last as the vessel never returned to port, leading to decades of unsuccessful searches in various parts of the Aegean.

Thoctarides’ breakthrough was the result of intense archival research, revisiting historical records of German minefields in the region, which eventually led his team to the correct search area and the submarine’s final location.

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