World War II Submarine Discovered in Aegean Sea

Learner News | 07/10/2024

In this edition of Greek Learner News, discover the story behind a long-lost British submarine found in the Aegean Sea, unraveling details of its fate and the closure it brings to families of its crew.

World War II Submarine Discovered in Aegean Sea

The news in Greek

Το βρετανικό υποβρύχιο1 HMS TROOPER, που χάθηκε το 1943, βρέθηκε στην Αιγαίο θάλασσα2 , σε βάθος 253 μέτρων. Ο Κώστας Θωκταρίδης και η ομάδα του το εντόπισαν3 . Το υποβρύχιο4 βυθίστηκε από νάρκη5 . Αυτή η ανακάλυψη6 βοηθά τις οικογένειες των 64 ναυτών7 που χάθηκαν να βρουν ειρήνη.

  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

The British submarine HMS TROOPER, which was lost in 1943, has been found in the Aegean Sea at a depth of 253 metres. Kostas Thoctarides and his team located it. The submarine sank after hitting a mine. This discovery helps bring peace to the families of the 64 sailors who were lost.

Text Comprehension

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

The name of the submarine is HMS TROOPER.

Question: How did the submarine sink?

The submarine sank because of a mine.

Vocabulary

GreekEnglish
υποβρύχιο (n.)submarine
εντοπίζωlocate
θάλασσα (f.)sea
νάρκη (f.)mine
ανακάλυψη (f.)discovery
ναύτης (m.)sailor

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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.”

World War II Submarine Discovered in Aegean Sea
World War II Submarine Discovered in Aegean Sea

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.

Info: “Greek Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Greek”, a language school dedicated to teaching the Greek language. Through our online courses and resources, we aim to help students of all levels learn Greek effectively at their own pace.


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