Underwater explorations and discoveries in Crete – Nikolas Giannoulakis and his WW2 Wrecks
By Pierre Kosmidis Scuba diver Nikolas Giannoulakis from Chania, Crete Island, Greece, has identified WW2 Wrecks illuminating unknown pages from the recent history of the island. A German Bf109 fighter and the wreck of a ship with a length of 130 metres, probably the Greek cargo ship “Kyriaki”, are both historical evidence of WW2, as […]
FOUND! Aldebaran: The Italian Navy Torpediniera sunk on 20 October 1941 in Greece
By Pierre Kosmidis Underwater photos by Milonakis Kostas www.wetklik.gr Other photos as credited Nearly 75 years have passed since the sinking of Aldebaran (code AL), an Italian warship, which met her fate at 9:40 in the morning of October 20, 1941 and was discovered and positively identified by the diving team of Antonis Grafas in […]
HMS Ben-My-Chree: The “Woman of My Heart”, the first seaplane carrier sunk in 1917
By Pierre Kosmidis A virtually unknown story, of great historical significance, comes to light once again 99 years after it happened, thanks to the efforts of experienced scuba diver, Trimix instructor and explorer Mr. Asim Karsçakar from Turkey. Mr. Karsçakar conducted a series of dives in the area with fellow scuba divers Mr. Aziz Yiğitler and Mr. […]
The sinking of the Norwegian tanker MT Solheim close to Crete on March 24, 1941 by the Luftwaffe
By Pierre Kosmidis Research and photos by George Karelas, used by permission The chaotic days just before and during the German invasion of Greece, which was initiated on April 6, 1941, codenamed “Operation Marita”, have seen the Luftwaffe enjoying total air superiority. This meant that the German aircraft dominated the skies and bombed, without any significant opposition, any […]
The Italian hospital ships in the Aegean Sea, by Vincenzo Giacomo Toccafondi
By Vincenzo Giacomo Toccafondi, author of the book “Storia di una Nave Bianca” (“Story of a White Ship”). All photos are owned by their respective owners, as credited and were kindly submitted by Mr. Toccafondi to www.ww2wrecks.com for publication in this feature article. A relatively unknown chapter of WW2 is unveiled, thanks to respected researcher […]
Petrella steamship tragedy unveiled: The 1944 disaster with 2670 victims
Research and photo documentation by George Karelas The depths of the Aegean Sea in Greece hide some great tragedies that occurred during World War 2. One such disaster is the torpedoing of the German steamship Petrella, formerly named Capo Pino, a cargo steamship of 4785 grt, 114.9 meters long, with a maximum speed of 12 knots, by […]
Paddle steamer PATRIS: Sunk in 1868, a unique shipwreck in the Aegean Sea, Greece
By Pierre Kosmidis It was February 23, 1868. The paddle steamer PATRIS, one of the most modern ships of her time, started her voyage from Piraeus with 400 passengers and crew and full of goods. PATRIS is sailing towards her final destination, the island of Syros, a commercial business centre in the second half of […]
The story of the Greek battleship “Kilkis” sunk by Stuka bombers on April 23, 1941
By Pierre Kosmidis Battleship Kilkis (Greek: Θ/Κ Κιλκίς) was a 13,000 ton Mississippi-class battleship originally built by the US Navy in 1904–1908. The Stuka dive bombers hit “Lemnos” in the background, with “Kilkis” visible in the middle of the photo As Mississippi she was purchased by the Greek Navy in 1914, and renamed Kilkis, along […]
Identified! WW2 German Stuka Ju 87 aircraft S7+GM shot down in a dogfight on October 9 1943 recovered west of Rhodes
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos, documents and additional information by Lt. Col. (ret.) Hans Peter Eisenbach, used by kind permission. Click the links below for additional reading: A personal account of a Luftwaffe pilot in Greece: Friedrich “Fritz” Eisenbach in Kefalonia, Rodos, Leros – The Ju 87 “Stuka” dive bomber operations in Greece, 1943 Dogfight over […]
R-194, the German Navy minesweeper sunk by Allied aircraft in 1944, off Corfu in Greece
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and research submitted by George Karelas and used by permission CLICK THE LINK TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE WRECK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le3Y_TSC-Y8 At a depth of approximately 55 metres, a WW2 wreck was located by a group of experienced Greek scuba divers, in 2015. The scuba diving expedition team consisting of Nikos Vasilatos, Eleni Tsopouropoulou, […]