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Scuba
Diving
in Malta is considered the best diving in the Mediterranean. The Maltese islands are blessed with warm
temperatures, even in winter, clear, unpolluted seas, with
visibility underwater in excess of thirty metres. Hundreds of kilometres of coastline, many of which are still unexplored,
make the Maltese archipelago a favourite with adventurous
divers.
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HMS RUSSELL |
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Length: 140m
Breadth: 25m.
Depth:
9m.
Displacement: 14000 tons
Armament:4X12inch guns, 12X6 inch guns, 12X3 inch
guns,
6X3 pdr
guns, two maxims
& 4
torpedo tubes.
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Russell
had a compliment of 800 men, 126 died. Admiral
Sydney R Freemantle commanded Russell at time of
loss. He survived. Before sinking Russell floated
for some 20 mins, she turned turtle, her huge hull
showing above water for a while before being
engulfed by waves. Court Marshall report may state
that Russell sunk 4.2 miles N [89' E True] from St
Elmo Breakwater lighthouse. It is said that Russell
arrived at Malta the night before but as the Harbour
was closed {boom defence} she had to wait till
morning. While manoeuvring outside the harbour she
struck a mine Russell carried 4x12" & 12x6" guns
whilst she mounted a secondary armaments of 12
pounders. |
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Most of
these guns especially the large ones are most
probably on the seabed as these were only placed on
the deck. When Russell turned over on the surface
these would have fallen down to the bottom. Russell
achieved a speed of 19 knots, and was launched in
Feb 1901 built at Jarrow. Report of this tragedy
found on the Daily Malta Chronicle of 1st May 1916.
The
Captain of HMS Russell was Capt.W.Bowden-Smith;
Russell was one of the first victims of the German
mine laying submarines, one of which, the U-73, had
voyaged from Kiel to Malta under Cdr.Gustav Siess.
On the
night of 23.4.16, the U-73 laid 22/36 mines at about
50 meters apart in front of the harbour at Malta,
before proceeding to Cattaro. |
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The following morning Russell, struck one of these mines and
sank 126 died, 625 were saved including the Captain and the
Admiral.
Russell was relocated at a depth of 113/115 meters & dived upon
for the first time in July 2003 by a British Technical diving
team Starfish Enterprise she was fund completely upside down but
with the stern section completely missing. Bow gun main turret
is still there but the stern gun main turret is missing.
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   ©
Divesubway 2008 - Photos Emi Farrugia
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