Wreckage of a US Coast Guard ship lost during WWI has been found off the coast of England
MIAMI (AP) — The wreck of a U.S. Coast Guard ship lost in a deadly attack more than a century ago during World War I has been discovered off the coast of England.
The Coast Guard announced Wednesday that the USCGC Tampa was found about 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the coast of Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom, at a depth of more than 300 feet (90 meters) in the Atlantic Ocean. The wreck of the cutter was located and confirmed by the British technical diving team Gasperados.
Adm. Kevin Lunay, commander of the Coast Guard, said in a statement that the courage and sacrifice of the Tampa crew reflected the legacy of the Coast Guard, which has defended the United States in every armed conflict since its founding in 1790.
“When the Tampa was lost on all sides in 1918, it left a lasting sorrow in our service,” Monday said. “The location of the wreck connects us to their sacrifice and reminds us that dedication to duty endures.”
The Tampa was lost after being torpedoed by a German submarine in the Bristol Channel, officials said. The ship sank in less than three minutes, killing all 131 people on board. This included 111 Coast Guardsmen, four U.S. Navy personnel, and 16 British Navy personnel and civilians. It was the largest loss of life in combat in the United States Navy during World War I.
The Gasperados dive team made 10 trips to possible dive sites.
“This discovery is the result of three years of research and exploration,” team leader Steve Mortimer said in a Facebook post. “TAMPA is of critical importance to the United States and to the loved ones of all those who died that day. Their final resting places are finally known.”
The all-volunteer team first contacted the Coast Guard Historian’s Office in 2023 about the Tampa.
“We provided the dive team with historical records and technical data to help them confirm the wreck site,” Coast Guard Atlantic Region Historian William Thiesen said in a statement. “This included archival footage of the Tampa’s deck equipment, ship’s wheel, bell, armament and archival footage.”
The Coast Guard is currently developing plans for underwater research and exploration.
