The wreckage of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa, lost for 107 years, has been discovered by a team of British divers approximately 50 miles off the coast of Newquay, England. The vessel's sinking in 1918 resulted in the loss of all 131 people on board, marking it as the largest single American naval combat loss of life during World War I.
Discovery After a Century
The discovery is the culmination of a three-year collaborative effort between the U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office and the British Gasperados Dive Team. The Tampa was struck by a torpedo from a German UB-41 submarine in the Bristol Channel, leading to a secondary explosion and its rapid sinking within just three minutes.
Historical Significance
Among the casualties were 11 Black crewmembers, who were the first minority Coast Guardsmen to be killed in combat. The loss of the Tampa was a devastating blow to the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, and its discovery brings closure to a tragic chapter in maritime history.
The find is expected to provide new insights into the events of that fateful day and honor the memory of those who perished. The dive team and historians continue to study the wreck site, ensuring the site is treated with the respect it deserves as a war grave.
