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DIVE SITES |
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Ras il-Wahx, Ras
ir-Raheb, Fessej Rock, Fungus Rock, Crocodile Rock, Azure Window,
Blue Hole and hundreds of other magnificent sites, offer you
excitement, marine life, colours, breath-taking scenery, caves and
corals that equal any other dive destination on this planet.
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X- 127 Lighter Wreck (Manoel
Island)
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History: In
February 1915, at about the same time that the smaller
Lighters of the Y Class were being considered, D.N.C.
received instructions to prepare also a design for a larger
type of lighter or barge, to be self-propelled, suitable for
transporting troops, horses, field guns and landing them on
a shelving beach. The matter was one of extreme urgency and
the design was completed within four days from the receipt
of instructions. The form decided upon was of angular bilge
section (pontoon shape) amidships, tapering to a ship shape
form at the ends, with a spoon shaped bow to better enable
the vessels to take the beach. The Hull was constructed of
mild steel, but in order to meet the limits of the plant at
some of the smaller yards certain small departures were
permitted in order to facilitate the speedy construction of
the vessels. The Vessels were designated X Lighters and
numbered from X1 to X200.
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The Dive:
The
X-127 Lighter also known as The Carolita Barge is on Manoel Island
in Marsamxetto Harbour. To reach the wreck, divers should swim in
a south-westerly direction at any depth between 10-15 metres.
The seabed around the wreck is muddy and scattered with objects
such as hospital beds, wheel chairs and other objects thrown
into the sea during and after the war. The torpedo damage at the
stern of the vessel is quite extensive. Throughout the dive,
octopus, small groupers and thousands of damselfish are
encountered. Maximum depth - 22 metres.
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Displacement |
160 ton(x1 series, 137r(x201
series) normal |
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Dimensions |
X 1 Series 15ft 6inches pp x
21ft x 3ft 6inches |
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32.2m x 6.4m x 1.1m |
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X 201 Series 98ft pp x 20ft x
3ft 6inches |
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Machinery |
1-shaft Bolinder Diesel
Engines, 60bhp (average) |
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(DX 1-25 unpowered) |
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Armament |
NIL |
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Photos Emi Farrugia
Info:
www.marinefoundation.org &
www.visitmalta.com
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