A British submarine from World War II has been discovered at a depth of 253 meters in the Icarian Sea, shedding light on a decades-old maritime mystery. The vessel, identified as HMS Trooper, sank on October 7, 1943, tragically taking 64 officers and sailors with it. This marks the eighth sunken submarine uncovered by the underwater research team led by Kostas Thoctarides.
A Long-Lost Wreck Comes to Light
According to Thoctarides, the 84-meter-long HMS Trooper was found in three distinct sections—bow, midsection, and stern—strongly suggesting a violent sinking due to a mine explosion. Locating the wreck not only resolves an 81-year-old enigma but also provides closure to the families of the lost crew members.
“It is with great emotion that I learn that the distinguished Greek researcher Kostas Thoctarides and his team have solved an 81-year-old mystery by discovering the final resting place of the British submarine HMS Trooper. Knowing the location of the submarine’s last residence will help bring closure to the surviving relatives and serves as a powerful reminder of the extraordinary men who made the ultimate sacrifice. Resurgam,” said George Malcolmson, former director of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum Archives.
Richard Wraith, a retired Royal Navy captain and son of HMS Trooper’s commanding officer, expressed his gratitude for the discovery. “I have been aware for many years of the painstaking efforts of the research team to locate the wreck of the submarine. I am both pleased and moved that their perseverance has finally been rewarded. I hope that the families of those who perished with my father will find some solace in the confirmed resting place of the Trooper, allowing them a point of reference for remembrance.”
Throughout the investigation, the research team maintained utmost respect for the site, avoiding any form of interference or disturbance, as the wreck remains a war grave. Among the fallen crew members was Australian volunteer Sub-Lieutenant John Stuart Ryder, who was only 22 years old at the time of the sinking.
Historical Context: The Aegean in 1943
The surrender of Italy on September 8, 1943, triggered a struggle for control over the Aegean. The Germans, determined to take over the Dodecanese from the Italians, were unwilling to tolerate Allied military presence on the islands.
By late September, British intelligence had detected the massing of German landing craft in the ports of Piraeus and Crete, along with troops and supplies that were likely destined for the Dodecanese. Against this backdrop, HMS Trooper, under the command of Lieutenant John S. Wraith, set sail from Beirut on September 26 for its eighth war patrol, with orders to enter the Aegean. Meanwhile, the German minelayer Drache was actively deploying sea mines in the Icarian Sea, setting the stage for the submarine’s fate.
By Orestis Karipis
