The enigma surrounding a British WWII submarine that disappeared in October 1943 has been unraveled. A Greek diving team, led by Kostas Thoctarides, has located the submarine at the bottom of the Icarian Sea, 253 meters deep, between the Cyclades and Asia Minor.
The forgotten HMS Trooper, a T-class British submarine, had embarked from Beirut on September 26, 1943, for an operation in the Aegean Sea near the Dodecanese islands, including the vicinity of Leros. This mission followed Italy’s surrender, which led to their withdrawal from the Dodecanese. Despite this, German forces sought to maintain their grip on the islands, deploying sea mines to thwart Allied naval forces. The HMS Trooper vanished, last expected on October 17, and was reported overdue. It was believed to have perished in German minefields east of Leros. This marks the eighth sunken submarine discovered by Thoctarides and his team.
According to Thoctarides, the 84-meter-long vessel was severed into three parts: the bow, midsection, and stern, affirming theories that it was indeed struck down by German mines.
The attack claimed the lives of sixty-four sailors. In light of the discovery, George Malcolmson, former director of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum Archive, thanked Thoctarides and his team, emphasizing the significance of locating the submarine: “Knowing the final resting place of the men aboard the submarine will bring closure to the surviving relatives and descendants and serves as a timely reminder of this special category of men who made the ultimate sacrifice. Resurgam.”
Captain Richard Wraith of the Royal Navy, son of the HMS Trooper’s commander, shared his sentiments: “I have been aware for many years of the painstaking efforts of the research team to locate the submarine’s wreck, and now I am very pleased and excited that their efforts have been rewarded. I hope that the families of those who were lost along with my father will be able to use the Trooper’s final resting place as a point of reference that will contribute to the peace of their loved ones’ memory.”
