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The tragic loss of the HMS Trooper, a British submarine lost in October 1943, has puzzled historians and families for over eight decades. After vanishing during a secret mission, its final moments have been shrouded in mystery—until now. A recent discovery off the coast of Greece has finally pinpointed the submarine’s location and revealed the cause of its destruction.
The Vanishing of the HMS Trooper
On a quiet fall day in 1943, the HMS Trooper, a British submarine, set sail from its station in the Mediterranean. Its mission? To deliver three secret agents to Kalamos, a small island off the coast of Greece, after Italy’s surrender. Early on October 1, the submarine successfully dropped off the agents. That night, the vessel and its crew of 64 men disappeared without a trace.
The British submarine was expected to continue on to Beirut, but it was never heard from again. A false sighting of the submarine on October 14 threw researchers off course, leading them to search in the wrong areas for decades. Despite over a dozen attempts to find the wreck, the HMS Trooper remained elusive—until a recent breakthrough.
Finding the HMS Trooper
In 2000, the first search expedition was launched, but it was not until 2024 that the HMS Trooper was finally located. Kostas Thoctarides, the founder of Planet Blue, a Greek underwater recovery company, and his team used sonar technology to search an area north of Donousa Island.
After years of unsuccessful efforts, the submarine was discovered at a depth of 830 feet (253 meters) on October 3, 2024—almost exactly 81 years after the vessel disappeared.
“Perseverance finally paid off,” said Thoctarides. “Eighty-one years after the loss, the first images of the HMS Trooper from the Aegean Sea were awe-inspiring.”
The Final Moments of the HMS Trooper
The tragic fate of the HMS Trooper came as a result of a German naval minefield. While the British submarine was on its mission, a German minelayer, Drache, was positioning mines between the islands of Ikaria and Donousa. The submarine entered this perilous zone shortly after completing its mission, leading to its catastrophic sinking.
Thoctarides described the discovery of the wreck in three distinct pieces: the bow, the stern, and the midship section. The severity of the damage suggests a violent sinking caused by a devastating mine explosion. The mine, containing 770 pounds (350 kg) of hexane explosive, caused the submarine to break into three parts, with the bow sinking first, followed by the stern and then the midsection. The explosion led to a rapid, tragic end for all 64 crew members.
Finding Closure for the Families
While the story of the HMS Trooper ended in tragedy, its rediscovery has brought a measure of peace to the families of the lost crew members.
“I’ve been aware for years of the Greek research team’s efforts to find the wreck, and I’m thrilled that their hard work has paid off,” said Richard Wraith, the son of the HMS Trooper’s commanding officer, Lieutenant John S. Wraith.
He continued: “The definitive location of the Trooper offers a focal point for the families of the fallen men, giving them the chance to find closure and honor their loved ones.”
The discovery of the HMS Trooper has brought long-awaited answers, but it also stands as a solemn reminder of the courage and sacrifice made during World War II. With the mystery solved, families can now finally lay their loved ones to rest, knowing where the submarine lies beneath the waves.
The underwater expedition that uncovered this tragic relic from history highlights both the persistence of those seeking answers and the depths of the Aegean Sea, where a piece of wartime history has been lost, now found.
