British ship sunk by German U-boat during WWI finally found after 107 years
A lost British ocean liner that sank during the First World War has been found near a Greek island 107 years later.
The HMST Arcadian vessel was found by the Kostas Thoctarides' research team southeast of Sifnos Island, at a depth of 163 metres.
The ship was attacked and torpedoed by a German submarine in 1917 while carrying more than 1,000 military personnel.
The research team said in a statement: "The quality of the metallic alloys used in the shipbuilding of the Arcadian is a major factor in the preservation of the wreck up to this day.
"The underwater research revealed that initially, the bow of the Arcadian crashed on the bottom of the Aegean, resulting in the visible deformation of the ship's shell plates.
"In regards with the ship's length (152.4m) and the seabed (163m), since the bow crashed first while the stern was still sinking, this helped the wreckage to stay aligned and upright 'til today."
The vessel was sailing from Thessaloniki to Alexandria in Egypt, escorted by HMS Sentinel and carrying more than 1,000 military personnel on 15 April 1917.
At 17:44, the vessel was hit on the starboard side, between the bridge and the foremast, by a torpedo fired by a German UC-74 submarine.
The ship was abandoned just 10 minutes after it was struck, and her rescue was assisted by HMS Sentinel.
Hundreds on board were saved but a total of 279 souls were lost in the waters of the Aegean Sea.
The fatalities included 34 crew members, two civilians, 10 members of the Navy and the rest were other members of the Armed Forces.
For the last 107 years, the ship was lost until it was discovered on the Aegean seabed located at a depth of 163 metres southeast of Sifnos.
The wreckage, located and identified by using an underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) was reportedly discovered in excellent condition and is one of the most impressive wrecks in Greece as it is intact.
The team said: "Ship's masts have collapsed aft at the port side. The lookout post can be seen on the fallen foremast.
"On the starboard side, a crack is observed caused by the torpedo fired from the German submarine.
"An unusually large concentration of fishing gear was observed on the wreck, fishing lines, nets, ropes, etc.
"The underwater visibility in the area is excellent, as it is in most areas of the Aegean."
The team's report went on: "The constant underwater currents aided to the transparency of the sea, but the marine life around the wreckage is relatively decreased.
"Ship's davits that used to lower the emergency lifeboats stand out but are almost covered by excess fish lines.
"During the sinking of the ship, the chimneys were detached."
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