HMT Lancastria

[Chris Ringrose]

I was talking the other night to my parents about my grandfather who apparently narrowly missed getting on the HMT Lancastria out of St Nazaire on 17th June 1940.

This was just as well as she was sunk in an air raid with the loss (unofficially) of 4000 lives. Hushed up at the time the official figures are still classified until 2040 but she is recognised as being the worst British maritime disaster.

I was curious if anyone knows what became of her? I read on one site that she was broken up subsequently but presumably there must be some wreckage left? Does anyone know where she is and is it a diveable depth?

Chris

[Conor]

I was talking the other night to my parents about my grandfather who apparently narrowly missed getting on the HMT Lancastria out of St Nazaire on 17th June 1940.

This was just as well as she was sunk in an air raid with the loss (unofficially) of 4000 lives. Hushed up at the time the official figures are still classified until 2040 but she is recognised as being the worst British maritime disaster.

I was curious if anyone knows what became of her? I read on one site that she was broken up subsequently but presumably there must be some wreckage left? Does anyone know where she is and is it a diveable depth?

Chris

I'm guessing it would also be the biggest UK war grave as well though

[Conor]

I had aquick look and found these

http://www.geocities.com/shipwrecks_...lancastria.htm


http://www.lancastria-association.org.uk/

Seems like 26M

[Chris Ringrose]

Thanks for the post, most interesting. There still seems to be a notable absence of position on these sites.

I know being a war grave means that you should not touch anything. For example the M2 disaster killed 60 people but you can still dive it as long as you don't remove anything. This wreck lies in French waters and must be subject to their rules.

Just been to Normandy and the rule there seemed to be that you can dive the sites but must not remove anything.

[Chris Ringrose]

Aha we have the answers:

From: http://www.sollers.fr/plongee/lancastr.html

47°09'N 02°20'W 17M

Transaletd description:

The wreck is located at 9,5 miles in the south-west of Saint-Nazaire, along the channel of the Loire the wreck is located at 17 m of depth. It is marked by the buoy of channel "lancastria". Little sheltered of all sectors, it is necessary to be over time there to plunge and take guard with the currents. One wets close to the bouée.On may find it beneficial to plunge to the slack of high tide, to have the best visibilté and the minimun of current. The wreck to lie on the blank port side, but remains whole separately the center, which is very abimé. An enthralling diving awaits you, in addition to the very dense fauna which shelters there you can walk along these 170 meters. But attention with the nets and cutting sheets, for confirmed plunger.