Divers find wreck of Coast Guard ship torpedoed by Germans, US’ largest naval loss of World War I

A century-old maritime mystery has been solved with the discovery of the wreckage of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Tampa, a vessel whose sinking in World War I represented the largest single loss of American naval life during the conflict. Located approximately 50 miles off the coast of Newquay, England, at a depth exceeding 300 feet, the find is the culmination of three years of dedicated research and exploration by the British volunteer technical-diving team Gasperados.

The Tampa, torpedoed by a German submarine on September 26, 1918, went down in less than three minutes, taking all 131 souls aboard with it. This tragic event left an "enduring grief" within the Coast Guard, as noted by Admiral Kevin Lunday, commandant of the USCG. The discovery of the wreck provides a tangible connection to the sacrifice of these men and ensures their final resting place is no longer unknown.

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The discovery is the result of three years of research and exploration. Tampa is of huge importance to the United States and the relatives of everyone who died that day. Their final resting place is known at last.

Steve Mortimer, the team lead for Gasperados, expressed the profound importance of this find, stating, "Tampa is of huge importance to the United States and the relatives of everyone who died that day. Their final resting place is known at last." The USCG has confirmed the find, acknowledging the invaluable assistance provided by its Historians Office in aiding the diving team's search. This discovery serves as a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the Coast Guard's crew throughout American history, a legacy that continues to inspire.

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Since 1790, the Coast Guard has defended our nation during every armed conflict in American history, a legacy reflected in the courage and sacrifice of the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Tampa. When the Tampa was lost with all hands in 1918, it left an enduring grief in our service. Locating the wreck connects us to their sacrifice and reminds us that devotion to duty endures. We will always remember them. We are proud to carry their spirit forward in defense of the United States.