A-Class destroyer HMS Acheron struck a mine 10 miles off St Catherine’s Point with the loss of 196 crewmen and dockyard workers on 17th December 1940.
HMS Acheron was named after a river in Hades in Greek mythology. She was built by Thorneycroft in Southampton and launched on 18th March 1930.
The A-Class destroyer had an unlucky war. She first saw action off the coast of Norway and was then deployed on English Channel escort duties. Whilst sailing 10 miles south of St Catherine’s Point on 20th July 1940, she was attacked by German dive bombers, and damaged by 9 near misses.
HMS Acheron began repairs at Portsmouth Dockyard, but on 24th August she was seriously damaged during an air raid which killed 2 of her crew and injured another 3.
Repairs were completed by 2nd December and she began post-refit trials. On 17th December, she was sailing off the Isle of Wight, again off St Catherine’s Point. The trial was conducted at night, in heavy seas, with a strong north-east wind, in complete darkness.
While HMS Acheron was turning in the early hours of the morning, she struck a mine. The massive explosion which followed broke her in 2. She sank within 4 minutes, taking 196 crewmen and yard workers – who were on board for the trials – to the bottom of the sea.
Some of those surviving the blast managed to cling to Carley floats. However, by the time help arrived shortly after first light, only 19 had survived the cold.
The mine HMS Acheron struck had probably been laid by the Luftwaffe along the Channel coast. Her sinking was not made public until 27th December 1940.
The wreck still lies on the seabed at a depth of 160ft. The site has been designated as a Protected Place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.
How very sad, makes you realise that all this guff of poverty is nothing compared to what so many gave to protect this nation, and so many hero’s tales which will never be known.
Such a shame that since, politicians from all parties have ruined our culture and now, I feel anyone who now sacrificed their life for what fills our nation would have died in vain.
Great but sad story Echo, thank you.
Another far right loony hijacking an interesting story for their own perverted political ends.
It is you who is perverted.
This comment is a perfect example of why we must keep the marxist left of island Labour out of our island
Suppose all those sailors who died were tories then you sick individual
They gave their lives to protect us from people who have the same sort of opinion about other races and religions as you.
Replace Jew with Muslim, Pole with Albanian and their attitude to those with both mental, physical and congenital disabilities and it is clear that the opinions of people like you are not so different from the 3rd Reich.
Thanks, another interesting article. Pleased to read it is a protected wreck to the dissuade the polished brass souvenier hunters.
At that depth there aren’t many who’ll be souvenir hunters. Sadly most of the interesting stuff has already gone with the tech guys.
How is this latest news?