27/11/2025
🚢 The True Story of the SS Thistlegorm
The SS Thistlegorm was a British Merchant Navy cargo ship built in 1940 during World War II. Its mission was to transport weapons and equipment to support the Allies.
📦 What Was the Ship Carrying?
The ship was loaded with a very large and dangerous cargo:
BSA motorcycles
Military cars and trucks
Light tanks
Ammunition and bombs
Weapons and rifles
Railway cars and spare parts
Medical and logistical supplies for the soldiers
This cargo was destined for the British Army in North Africa to support the war against Rommel's forces.
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⚠️ Its Final Voyage
In June 1941, the ship sailed from Scotland towards Egypt, taking a long route due to the threat of German submarine attacks.
Because the port of Suez was congested, the command ordered the ship to wait in a small bay near Giftun Island (Hurghada), where the wreck of the ship lies today.
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💥 The Attack That Sank the Ship
On the night of October 6, 1941, two German Heinkel He-111 aircraft were searching for another British warship.
They happened to spot the SS Thistlegorm, anchored and dimly lit.
The two planes dropped two bombs directly on the main ammunition store.
The explosion was enormous:
It completely destroyed the stern of the ship.
It detached the loaded train on the upper deck.
The ammunition caught fire.
The ship broke apart and sank within minutes.
Of the crew:
9 died.
More than 30 were rescued by other nearby vessels.
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🌊 The Wreck Rediscovered
The wreck remained lost for many years, although local fishermen knew that a large “ship” lay underwater.
Then, in 1956, it was discovered by Jacques Cousteau's team—the most famous explorer of the seas—who filmed the site, but its location remained a secret for a long time.
By the early 1990s, the site had become world-renowned and one of the best dive sites in the world.
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🧜♂️ Why is the Thistlegorm wreck so special?
Because when you dive, you see:
Original motorcycles intact
Trucks and tanks parked inside the cargo holds
Ammunition and bomb crates
Cannons and armor plating
Huge train cars
Plus, it's in a magical marine environment, teeming with enormous fish!
