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"Thistlegorm" ( from Gaelic -"thistle") launched in Great Britain in April, 1940 had 126 meters lengthwise and its tonnage was 5000 tons. This ship began his last campaign in September, 1941, in England with cargo of ammunition and technics for the 8th British Army's needs. Covered the distance about 12,000 miles, sailing in the Atlantic and the Indian oceans, "Thistlegorm" dropped its anchor near the Suezki Gulf on the 6th of October, 1941. And that night it was discovered and attacked by the fascist plane "Henkel 111". Two bombs reached the deck and exploded in one of the holds, full of ammunition. As a result the ship was broken in two parts and it sank at depth of about 30 meters.
Sailed round Africa and covered the distance about 12,000 miles of the Atlantic and the Indian oceans, on the 6th of October, 1941"Thistlegorm" dropped its anchor near the Suezki Gulf. And that night it was discovered and attacked by the fascist plane "Henkel 111". Two bombs reached the deck and exploded in one of the holds, full of ammunition. As a result the ship was broken in two parts and it sank at depth of about 30 meters.
The cargo boat "Thistlegorm"
It was very hot that night and for the first time since our departure I got completely undressed before climbing into my bunk. I was still half-awoken when I felt a terrible explosion and heard the boatswain's shouting up on the deck. I tried to get up. It was dark in the cabin; my things were all in a pile and I couldn't find my clothes, so I went up on deck with nothing but my lifejacket on. There was an inferno of flames and flashes all around me, and the way to the lifeboats was blocked; I thought the best way to save myself was to dive into the water. I dashed over to the railing; it was already boiling hot. I was about to jump when I turned and saw one of the gunners lying unconscious, with flames all over him. I ran towards him but the deck was covered with pieces of glass that stuck in my feet. So, before I could pick him up, I had to stop and take them out. I managed to get the man up onto my shoulders and was trying get across the burning deck to the lifeboat when I heard someone calling me. I saw Jon Dagg, the second officer, coming towards us with some other men; with their help we at last managed, to get into the lifeboat...
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Underwater shooting operators:
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Leonid Kiryakov
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Oleg Вozhok
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Alexei Gorodisskiy
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