FASLANE DIVERS CALLED IN TO CLEAR WRECK IN SOUTH ATLANTIC ^∧

Published on thelochsidepress.com, 23^rd July 2015{3}

Archive image of the RFA Darkdale after she had been torpedoed

Royal Navy divers based at Faslane were called in to clear explosives from a wreck in the South Atlantic.

They were deployed to St Helena to work on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Darkdale, a freighting tanker which refuelled warships during World War 2.

While at anchor in James Bay, she was torpedoed by German submarine U-68 in the early hours of October 22^nd 1941, resulting in the loss of 41 crew members - with only two survivors.

The ship was split in two by the explosion, caught fire and sank within five minutes, remaining at a depth of 42 metres.

Members of the Fleet Diving Squadron above the Darkdale wreck

In 2010, during a winter storm, the wreck released some of the oil that she had been carrying as cargo, leading to calls from the islanders who live in the British Overseas Territory for the Ministry of Defence to step in and prevent an environmental hazard.

The Northern Diving Group was sent from the Clyde, embarking on the RMS Saint Helena, the last operating Royal Mail Ship in the world and the only way to access the remote archipelago, which is 1,200 miles from the nearest land.

Using specialist equipment, divers were able to remain at depth for prolonged periods and went on to remove 38 large projectile items, totalling around 80kg of high explosives.

Lieutenant Olly Shepherd, who led the team, said: “It was an extremely challenging and remote location to work in, but the team performed exceptionally and we have successfully cleared the wreck of a significant explosive hazard. It certainly made a change from removing old ordnance around the freezing waters of the UK.”

The clearance of the wreck allowed MoD salvage teams to start safely removing the trapped oil within the holding tanks of the wreck.

The operation is due to be complete by mid-August, allowing the wreck to remain safely in place as a haven for marine life.

The Royal Navy ship HMS Protector, moored off St Helena

See also: Diving • Lost Ships