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Wreckage Of USCGC Tampa Found Off England Coast
The wreckage of the USCGC Tampa, lost in World War I after a torpedo attack, was found about 50 miles off Newquay, Cornwall, at a depth over 300 feet. The discovery was confirmed by the Gasperados dive team after three years of research and ten dives, locating the final resting place of the vessel and its crew.
Why It Matters
The Tampa sinking represents the largest single American naval loss of life in World War I, and the discovery preserves a critical historical resting place and honors those who died.
Timeline
2 Events
Discovery Of Tampa Wreck Off Newquay Confirmed
April 29, 2026
The US Coast Guard announced that the Tampa was found about 50 miles (80 kilometers) off Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom, at a depth exceeding 300 feet (90 meters) in the Atlantic Ocean. The wreckage was located and confirmed by the British technical-diving team Gasperados. Gasperados Dive Team conducted 10 trips to possible dive locations. Team leader Steve Mortimer said the discovery is the result of three years of research and exploration, and that the Tampa's final resting place is now known.
Sinking Of USCGC Tampa During World War I
1918
The US Coast Guard cutter Tampa was torpedoed by a German submarine in the Bristol Channel during World War I. The vessel sank in less than three minutes, with the deaths of all 131 people aboard, including 111 Coast Guardsmen, four US Navy personnel, and 16 British Navy personnel and civilians. It was the largest single American naval combat loss of life in World War I.