Researchers Seek to Locate and Identify Shipwrecks from Operation Dynamo

One sentence summary – Researchers are conducting a mission to detect and identify undiscovered shipwrecks from Operation Dynamo in 1940, aiming to uncover the hidden history of the Dunkirk evacuation and gain a deeper understanding of the events that unfolded during the early stages of the Second World War.

At a glance

• Operation Dynamo was a significant event in the early stages of the Second World War.
• It involved the evacuation of 338,226 Allied soldiers across the English Channel.
• More than 305 vessels were lost during this operation due to German attacks.
• Thirty-seven wrecks linked to Operation Dynamo have been located in French waters.
• A new program is being launched to search for the remaining 31 undiscovered wrecks and document the known sites.

The details

Researchers have embarked on a mission to detect and identify undiscovered shipwrecks from Operation Dynamo in 1940.

Operation Dynamo was a significant event in the early stages of the Second World War.

It involved the evacuation of 338,226 Allied soldiers across the English Channel.

During this operation, more than 305 vessels were lost.

These losses were due to German artillery fire, air bombings, and other attacks.

Research conducted between 2021 and 2023 has revealed new information about the location and condition of these wrecks.

So far, thirty-seven wrecks linked to Operation Dynamo have been located in French waters.

There are a further 31 vessels believed to have been lost but are yet to be found.

A new program is being launched by Drassm and Historic England to search for these undiscovered wrecks.

This program will also document the sites that are already known.

The wrecks may provide clues about the fate of the ships and the attacks they faced.

Some of the vessels would have sunk within minutes due to being heavily loaded with troops.

This would have resulted in a heavy loss of life.

The study will be followed by diving surveys next year.

These surveys aim to provide an overall view of the wrecks.

This will enable conservation and public engagement strategies.

The initial results of the research will be shared with the public.

This will be done at events organized in partnership with the Communaute Urbaine de Dunkerque.

It is estimated that more than 1,000 ships from various countries were involved in the nine days and nights of the evacuation.

This mission aims to uncover the hidden history of the Dunkirk evacuation.

It seeks to shed light on the sacrifices made by the Allied forces during this critical period of the Second World War.

By locating and documenting these wrecks, researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of the events that unfolded.

They also aim to pay tribute to those who lost their lives.

The findings will contribute to the preservation and conservation of these important historical sites.

This will allow future generations to learn from and honor this significant chapter in history.

This information is based on the collaborative efforts of multiple researchers and organizations.

These include Drassm and Historic England.

The focus on neutrality and objectivity allows for an unbiased account of the mission and its objectives.

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