Deep secrets of the war to be uncovered
A team of 12 divers will today (Thursday, August 6) begin a five-day project to try to find a Landing Craft Tank (LCT) which sank in 1944.
The team hopes the project in Bracklesham will solve the sea mystery and save the LCT before it is lost to the sea forever.
The LCT was used in the D-Day landings, carrying tanks and armoured bulldozers. It was part of J Force and was due to land at Juno Beach for the Canadian and British forces before it was sunk by gunfire.
"There are many second world war wrecks along the south coast and many remain unidentified," said Alison Mayor, who will be leading the diving project.
"Their story could soon be lost forever to the sea. Some of these wrecks have been dived for many years, but it is only when you start looking at the story behind their sinking do you begin to appreciate their true historical significance."
Last year the divers, from Southsea Sub-Aqua Club, finally solved the mystery of how two tanks, two bulldozers and a gun came to rest on the seabed eight miles offshore in Bracklesham.
The exact location of the LCT has yet to be confirmed. Earlier in the year a relative of one of the crew who had survived the sinking contacted the Southsea Sub-Aqua Club after hearing about the work it had been doing in connection with the incident.
The historic world war two armoured vehicles and gun lie jumbled up on the seabed at a depth of 20m, but there is no known associated shipwreck nearby.
As a result of their work the divers believe they now have the evidence to prove they were lost from a LCT and not from a section of Mulberry Harbour bridge section as previously believed.
The historic war diaries for 2nd Royal Marine Armoured Support Group, which took part in the D-Day landings at Juno Beach supporting Canadian forces, confirmed that one LCT was forced to turn back halfway across the Channel after engine trouble and reported two of their Centaur tanks as being lost at sea.
The weather was bad during the crossing and a further naval war diary entry confirms the same LCT capsized while under tow.
All 53 members of crew, Royal Marines and Canadian personnel, were rescued safely. The LCT continued to float upside down for some time and was eventually sunk by gunfire on June 6, 1944.
To find out more about Southsea Sub-Aqua Club email secretary@southseasubaqua.org.uk or visit the club website
www.southseasubaqua.org.uk or write to Southsea Sub-Aqua Club, Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth PO6 3LS.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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