ANDRE MALRAUX

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Wrecks of Dunkirk evacuation surveyed

The locations of three shiips used in the Dunkirk evacuation in the Second World War have been uncovered for the first time by a detailed survey of 30 shipwrecks off the French coast with the Andrea Malraux'. Commanded from the tunnels underneath Dover Castle, the mission codenamed Operation Dynamo saw more than 338,000 Allied soldiers rescued in small boats between May 26 and June 4, 1040, with private boats, fishing vessels and lifeboats requisitioned by the British Navy from British coastal towns. Dover and Deal residents played major roles in the operation both militarily and from the civilian response manning the “little ships”. Now Historic England and its French counterpart, Drassm, have carried out detailed surveys of 30 wrecks showing their position, characteristics and condition in remarkable detail. The main instrument used for the survey was a multi-beam echo-sounder mounted beneath the hull of the 'Andre Malraux'. A total of 27 Operation Dynamo wrecks were located and studied, with the precise location of 12 of these not previously known. Four wrecks, either destroyed or covered by sand, could not be found. A further 19 features have been studied, three of which appear to correspond to the location and characteristics of vessels lost during Operation Dynamo that were previously undiscovered. The identities of two wrecks – the French auxiliary minesweepers 'Denis Papin' and 'Moussaillon', sunk by air attacks on June 1, 1940, - have been corrected. The new data showed that previous identifications had confused the two wrecks. The survey data was detailed enough to confirm the identification of 19 wrecks by matching dimensions and features with historic photographs. The survey has confirmed that many of the Dynamo wrecks are in relatively good condition. The destroyer HMS 'Keith' was surveyed in 2016 and 2019 by the Port of Dunkirk (Grand Port Maritime de Dunkerque – GPMD). The 2023 survey shows that part of the destroyer’s hull has degraded in just a few years, collapsing away from its former position.” The survey is the first part of an ongoing project which next year will see local divers carry out further investigations, with the findings to be displayed in museums and online. Report with photos: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/secrets-of-dunkirk-shipwrecks-revealed-in-new-project-295264/