British troop ship torpedoed 99 years ago pictured

These stunning photographs show the wreckage of a British troop ship 235ft down on the seabed off the Irish coast – 99 years after it was destroyed by a German U-boat.

Chemist Darragh Norton, 43, captured images of the giant SS Justicia off the north-west coast of Ireland.

The 776ft ocean liner was torpedoed south of Skerryvore in Scotland by German Type III Coastal U-boat UB-64 at the end of the First World War. 

It had been used as a troop ship and in July 1918 was sailing from Belfast to New York without any passengers. Escorted by destroyers, the vessel reached 23 miles off Skerryvore when the German sub started firing.

Stunning photographs show the wreckage of a British troop ship deep underwater off the Irish coast – 99 years after it was destroyed by a German U-boat

The 776ft ocean liner was torpedoed south of Skerryvore in Scotland by German Type III Coastal U-boat UB-64 at the end of the First World War

The 776ft ocean liner was torpedoed south of Skerryvore in Scotland by German Type III Coastal U-boat UB-64 at the end of the First World War

Divers captured stunning images of the giant, rusting vessel, which lies on the seabed off Malin Head in Ireland

Divers captured stunning images of the giant, rusting vessel, which lies on the seabed off Malin Head in Ireland

Justicia stayed afloat as the watertight doors were closed in time and most of the crew could evacuate.

But the following day, the U-boat returned and fired two more torpedoes forcing the ship to finally sink, killing 16 crew.

Darragh photographed his dive which was part of an annual pilgrimage to the world’s most awe-inspiring shipwrecks.

Escorted by destroyers, the vessel reached 23 miles off Skerryvore when the German sub started firing. Justicia stayed afloat as the watertight doors were closed in time and most of the crew could evacuate

Escorted by destroyers, the vessel reached 23 miles off Skerryvore when the German sub started firing. Justicia stayed afloat as the watertight doors were closed in time and most of the crew could evacuate

Chemist Darragh Norton, 43, captured images of the giant SS Justicia last month off the north-west coast of Ireland

Chemist Darragh Norton, 43, captured images of the giant SS Justicia last month off the north-west coast of Ireland

The ship (pictured), a White Star liner built in Belfast, is among a number of other sunken boats found on the seabed off the Irish coast

The ship (pictured), a White Star liner built in Belfast, is among a number of other sunken boats found on the seabed off the Irish coast

Darragh from Ireland living in Riehen, Switzerland said: ‘It’s a world class destination for technical divers. The seabed is littered with ocean liners, German WWI and WWII submarines, numerous merchant vessels in visibility that often exceeds 30 metres.

‘Most of the wrecks lie beyond the reach of recreational divers, requiring specialized equipment and exotic gases associated with technical diving.

‘With depths of 60-160m a dive of 30 minutes typically take three to five hours of slow ascent to avoid the bends. 

 

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