BBC NEWS | UK | Sunken WW2 warship found in fjord The wreck of a Royal Navy destroyer has been found in a Norwegian fjord, 68 years after she sank during battle. HMS Hunter has remained undisturbed since April 1940 when she sank, killing 110 people during the Battle of Narvik. It was found 305m (1,000ft) under water by a Norwegian mine control vessel on a multinational training exercise. The site will be marked as a war grave on Saturday. Major General Garry Robison said finding HMS Hunter had been a "poignant moment". HMS Hunter was one of two Allied destroyers lost during the first Battle of Narvik - the Germans lost four destroyers. 'Long lost' The 1,880 tonne H-Class Destroyer had a crew of 145 - 110 of whom were killed when she was sunk at 0530 GMT on 10 April 1940. There have been several attempts to find her over the years, but it was the Norwegian mine hunter Hnoms Tyr, while on an exercise with the Royal Navy, Royal Norwegian Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy which discovered her. Being able to pay our respects along with our Norwegian and Dutch allies is particularly fitting to those who lost their lives Maj Gen Garry Robison Commander, UK amphibious force In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said HMS Hunter was discovered using an "echo sounder". "It became clear that this was the long-lost HMS Hunter, lying as she was when she had finally succumbed to the unforgiving waters after bravely fighting during the Battle of Narvik," it said. Ships from the Royal Navy, the Netherlands Maritime Force and the Norwegian Navy, will lay wreaths over the spot in a commemorative service on Saturday. Poignant moment Ships will sail in "formed line" past the site, which will now be marked as a war grave. Maj Gen Robison, the commander of the UK's amphibious force, said: "Finding HMS Hunter was a poignant moment and being able to pay our respects along with our Norwegian and Dutch allies is particularly fitting to those who lost their lives." Norwegian defence spokesman Colonel John Ogland said: "Being able to host this large multinational exercise is great for us but to find HMS Hunter whilst doing so makes it very special indeed. "We remain close allies and are eternally grateful to those who helped preserve our freedom."
Some more detail and an underwater photo: Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Sunken WWII Royal Navy ship found off Norway uboat.net - Allied Warships - Destroyer HMS Hunter of the H class
Very interesting and coincidental. I drove to Sydney last week from Melbourne and borrowed an audio book from the libraray to pass away the 900 km drive. It was "Storm Force to Narvik: Part of the Everard naval series by Alexander Fullerton. Although it was Historical Fiction it gave a great insight into the action of the First Battle of Narvik and the loss of HMS Hunter & HMS Hardy. View attachment 1474 It was also where three VC's of WW2 "were" awarded. Lt Comm. Gerald Broadmead Roope, Captain of HMS Glowworm rammed the Admiral Hipper off Trondheim 8/4/1940. Who's Who in Naval History: From ... - Google Book Search Gerard Broadmead Roope - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lt.Cdr. Roope was awarded a posthumous VC on the recommendation of the CO of the Admiral Hipper, this is one of a few recorded occurrences of a decoration awarded on the recommendation of the enemy. [SIZE=-1] Lieutenant-Commander Richard Been Stannard, V.C., D.S.O., R.D., R.N.R. (Loughton, Essex). HMS Arab - 28/4/40 - 2/5/40 at Namsos Richard Been Stannard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [/SIZE]Captain Bernard Armitage Warburton Warburton-Lee VC The first gazetted VC of WW2 Bernard Warburton-Lee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It's a good book, isn't it? http://ww2chat.com/forums/books-films/1598-alexander-fullertons-nicholas-everard-wwii-saga.html Amazing stuff re the VC recommended by the Captain of the Hipper.
