Navy
Worst Royal Naval Reserve Collision Remembered
HMS Fittleton's collision remains the worst ever peacetime accident involving the Royal Naval Reserves.
40 years after the sinking, the village of Fittleton are remembering the 12 Royal Naval personnel who died.
Every year, since she sunk on the 20th of September 1976, a memorial service takes place in the ship's namesake village of Fittleton, in Wiltshire.
This year around 80 people attended the service, including 14 survivors.
The British minesweeper sank after attempting to come alongside a much larger frigate, HMS Mermaid, whilst en route to Hamburg for teamwork operations.
HMS Fittleton capsized in under a minute, the 32 survivors were picked from the sea and the wreck was lifted and sent for scrapping.
12 men lost their lives, of which 11 were Royal Naval Reserve volunteers.
For everyone at the service, remembering those who lost their lives is paramount.
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