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Wreck of US Naval Loss: Tampa Found After WWI

British divers located the wreck of the US Coast Guard Cutter Tampa off the coast of Cornwall, marking the discovery of the site of the largest U.S. naval loss during World War I. The wreck, carrying 131 crew members, was sunk by a German submarine torpedo on September 26, 1918. The discovery followed three years of research and was confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard using archival data. The *Tampa*'s final voyage details show it was en route to refuel when it was struck. The find is significant for honoring the sacrifice of the crew, and the Coast Guard plans further robotic exploration.

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Wreck of US Naval Loss: Tampa Found After WWI

British divers have successfully located the wreck of the US Coast Guard Cutter Tampa, marking the discovery of the site of the largest U.S. naval loss during World War I. The find, confirmed after years of research, brings closure to the resting place of the 131 crew members who perished in 1918.

Discovery Details and Confirmation

The wreckage was located last weekend by the British Gasperados Dive Team, a volunteer technical-diving group. The find occurred at a depth of 91 meters (300 feet), approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) off the coast of Cornwall, southern England.

  • Research Timeline: The dive team had been actively searching for the Tampa since 2023.
  • Confirmation: The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the wreck's identity by providing archival data, including images of the ship's deck fittings, wheel, bell, and weaponry.

The Incident: Loss of the Tampa

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The Tampa was sunk by a German submarine torpedo on September 26, 1918. The vessel was carrying 111 Coast Guardsmen, four U.S. Navy sailors, and 16 Britons, including Royal Navy personnel and civilians.

According to Coast Guard records, the final voyage details are as follows:

  • Initial Duty: The ship began convoy duty in the Atlantic on September 17, 1918.
  • Change of Course: On September 26, the captain requested permission to leave the convoy to refuel due to dangerously low coal supplies.
  • Sinking: Around 8:15 p.m., the Tampa was spotted by the German sub UB-41, which fired a single torpedo. A subsequent explosion, possibly from igniting coal dust or depth charges, followed the initial blast.

Historical Significance

The loss of the Tampa represented the largest naval casualty for U.S. forces during World War I. The crew was diverse, including immigrants from Russia and Norway, and eleven of the lost Coast Guardsmen were Black, making them the first minority Coast Guardsmen killed in combat.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday stated that locating the wreck connects the service to the sacrifice of the crew, emphasizing the enduring devotion to duty. The Coast Guard is reportedly developing plans to further explore the wreck using autonomous systems and robotics.

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