British WW2 sub that vanished without trace killing 64 sailors found after eight decades
An 81-year mystery has been solved after the wreck of a Royal Navy submarine that disappeared without trace during the Second World War has been found in the waters off Greece.
HMS Trooper was patrolling on a secret mission in the Aegean Sea when she disappeared, with 64 crew members onboard, in October 1943.
The missing T-class sub was discovered 253 metres down in the Icarian Sea by underwater research team Planet Blue, led by Greek diver Kostas Thoctarides.
Trooper had been operating primarily in the Mediterranean and on her final mission had successfully landed three secret agents and valuable cargo at Kalamos on the island of Evia.
She was not heard from again and was declared lost at sea after failing to return to Beirut on 17 October.
German forces claimed that one of their armed merchant ships sank the submarine, while the Western Allies attributed the loss to enemy mines near Leros.
The recent discovery of her wreck was made following 14 failed attempts which began in 2000.
Mr Thoctarides said the 275ft vessel had broken up into three sections, proving she had suffered a violent sinking, due to a catastrophic mine explosion.
He added: "The result of the explosion was the immediate and rapid sinking. First the bow went down, then the stern and lastly the midship section, which had remained on the surface for a few minutes."
Richard S Wraith, the son of HMS Trooper's captain, followed in his footsteps to become a Royal Navy officer.
On the discovery of his father's submarine, he said: "I have been aware for many years of the strenuous effort by the Greek research team to locate the wreck of the submarine and am now very pleased and excited that their endeavours have been rewarded.
"I hope that any family members of those lost with my father may be able to use the definitive location of Trooper as a focal point to help lay to rest any memories of their loved ones."
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