description SS Gairsoppa Overview
SS Gairsoppa was a British cargo steamship sunk in the North Atlantic during the Second World War. A German U-boat torpedoed the vessel on 17 February 1941 while it was carrying commodities that included a large shipment of silver; only one member of the crew survived. The wreck was located in 2011 at a depth of roughly 4,700 metres, and subsequent operations recovered a substantial quantity of silver in a technically demanding deep-sea salvage project.
help SS Gairsoppa FAQ
Where is the wreck of the SS Gairsoppa located?
The wreck of the SS Gairsoppa is located on the floor of the North Atlantic Ocean, roughly 300 miles off the coast of Ireland. It rests at a depth of approximately 4,700 meters, making recovery operations highly complex.
What cargo was the SS Gairsoppa carrying when it sank?
The British cargo steamship was carrying a large shipment of silver bullion, along with pig iron and tea. The silver was intended to serve as funds for the British government during World War II.
What happened to the crew of the SS Gairsoppa?
The ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat on February 17, 1941, resulting in the deaths of nearly the entire crew. Out of the 85 men on board, only one person, Second Officer Richard Ayres, survived the sinking.
Has the silver from the SS Gairsoppa been recovered?
Yes, deep-sea salvage company Odyssey Marine Exploration located the wreck in 2011. By 2013, they had successfully recovered tens of thousands of ounces of silver from the site under a contract with the UK government.
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