31st January 1944
As the flotilla of 18 "killers" shadowed in the early morning raced across from Cherbourg, the convoy off Beachy Head had little warning of the vicious attack pending. The German E boats swarmed upon the small convoy unleashing their torpedoes and hammering home with their cannons at 02.45!
HMS Pine, the armed escort was the first to be hit. She listed heavily after a single torpedo strike. Later an attempt was made to tow her towards Portsmouth for repair, but she sank to the east of Selsey Bill due to the severe damage inflicted. The freighters Caleb Sprague and Emerald were also hit by torpedoes but sank swiftly. The Caleb Sprague was carrying steel and timber and the Emerald was a collier. Both heavily laden, they were vulnerable and sank where they were hit.
The Club charter ran out of Brighton on an overcast day on the 2nd September this year. Aboard Spartacus, 9 enthusiasts settled in for the 23 mile run that would put us onto the wreck site. The sea was rolling some, with a force 4 accompanying the boat. Not quite sun bathing on the deck stuff!
The Caleb Sprague lies in 46 metres with her bow rising to 35. When we arrived, the water looking a steely-blue colour; vis should be good! The skipper: Tim, shotted the wreck and mentioned that the seabed was 52 metres: not quite the plan!.........but understood by all!
Descending on the line, the vis looked fine, but it got darker as we went down. Out of the depths loomed the 'glow' of the wreck, decorated with white and gold plumose anemones. The line was lying across the deck and onto the seabed. Thinking clearly, Mark had belayed the line to the hull to assure the ascent reference. All divers were either rigged with twin cylinders or primary tanks and ponies. The vis was around 8 meters and the wreck was easy to orientate to. The deck proved to be at 44 meters and the bow rose above to 37. Ladders led to the foredeck where a large winch is positioned, with chains and ropes still lying on the deck. Discarded trawl nets and some fishing lines drew ones awareness to possible snags, but the whole group had no trouble here. Helen, Mark and Mary had swam back to the bridge prior to making their ascent. The fish life had been prolific below, with large Pollack seen hanging off the bow and shoals of Bib swirling in the entrances to the holds and under the bridge and bow. Also dark eyed, 'massively eyebrowed' Tompot Blennies were watching goings on.
All divers returned safely, running around 15 minutes decompression. A fantastic dive and one to do again! Rewarmed with hot cups of tea and then a fairly bouncy ride was endured back to Brighton. But here, a few hardy soles jumped in again off at the Palace Pier reef. An excellent little bimble, with a gentle drift, good vis and teaming with life. A great day! Don't miss it next year!