HMS Abdiel: Taranto Harbour 1943

[stewart mcloughlin]

Could anyone oblige me with the exact site that HMS Abdiel lies in Taranto Harbour, Italy, as a result of her being mined there on 10th September, 1943?
"X" marks the spot on a map would be ideal.
Is there an Abdiel old comrades association?
I understand her bell was recovered by divers some time ago. Anyone know where it is now?
Much thanks.
Stewart McLoughlin

[rumrat]

I have one of her Ceremonial lifebelts which i rescued from Hartlepool a couple of years ago.
I don't think there's an old comrades association thro i may be wrong.
Regards
Dave

[Batstiger]

As far as I know she is just outside Taranto Harbour, perhaps one of the diving sites might be able to help you.

Bob.

[stewart mcloughlin]

Many thanks Bob.
I've posted on ukdiving.co.uk
Wait and see what it brings.
Regards
Stewart

[Batstiger]

I should be interested to hear if you have any luck on this one Stewart.

Bob.

[tomsam]

Hi Stewart. This wrecks position has always been a bit of a mystery.
Some say she was going to the berth others say she was berthed.
I also will be interested in your quest results.
Have you tried this site.
http://www.thewrecksite.com.
Quite interesting, giving grid references etc.
Cheers
Tomsam

[stewart mcloughlin]

Unfortunately Abdiel not listed.

Have posted.

Await a result.

Many thanks

Stewart

[Batstiger]

HI again Stewart, have you had a look at this site, perhaps it might be an idea to get in touch with them?

http://www.sportesport.it/wrecksaaWARSHIP.htm

Bob.

[stewart mcloughlin]

Thanks Bob

No more information on that site than I already know, but wasn't aware of it, but thanks for the interest.

Just finished watching (?) Match of the Day, with a couple of cans, whilst I've been surfing and found a ship's agent in Taranto Harbour and a diving school (?) there also. Have just sent off two e.mails to them, so I'll see what it brings. No success yet on two British based diving schools.

Been trying to find a cheap (HA!!!) flight out there because I have another casualty buried at Bari military cemetery just up the Adriatic from Brindisi which would be very handy to fly into, hire a car and fly back out. Cheapest I could get (HA, HA!!!) was £1,277 and 60p. Don't forget the sixty pence!
It was via Brussels and Rome and took 13 hours and 40 minutes to get there. That's flying time, not including pre and post flight waiting time.

I remember flying Manchester / Brindisi on a 737 in 1974 and it only took about 3 hours. I then picked up a cruise ship for 14 days around the Eastern Med for £174, full board. Is this progress?

Regards

Stewart

[herakles]

Ryan Air or Easyjet don't fly to Rome?

[stewart mcloughlin]

You're quite right. It was on Air Canada Goose and then Virgin Paddlewheel Airlines.
No in-flight meals or fuel surcharge, but bring five litres of kerosene to check-in!!
Stewart

[Batstiger]

I came across this scan that I did many moons ago stashed away in my computer.
The one scan is rather large so I have included a smaller version.

Regards, Bob.

[ChalkyWhite]

Hello Stewart,

Just as an aside to the wreck site reccomended to you by Tomsam.

Re SS Moldavia seen in the list.
I was relief Coroners Officer in Sussex Police during the late 1980's and dealt with numerous deaths of divers who had been diving on this large wreck which is not too far off Littlehampton. It's sobering to think that this ship continues to take human life.
I'm not too sure what caused most of these deaths but as far as I recall it is a deep dive and most divers were too interested in getting bits of brass, etc to check their watches and make sure they had the correct time surfacing properly instead of coming up too quickly. Either that or they were caught up in fishing nets, or other debris. All wrecks are festooned with fishing nets which make some dives extremely dangerous.

Chalky White

[stewart mcloughlin]

Thanks gents for your latest input, unfortunately I'm no better with the Italian e.mails I posted off and that trip to Italy seems a runner in '09. Have found that one of the cheapy airlines fly to Bari from Stanstead ex Liverpool for me. The fares aren't that bad and if I can tie in a reasonable hotel, me and the misses can go over for a Spring break.
If anyone is interested, you can see what we have so far on our village casualty by going to longtononline.co.uk, CLICK History (top left), CLICK WW2 Memorial (centre), scroll down to Sharp, Richard Mansell, (our casualty Captain M.D., Parachute Medic.), CLICK and hey!!! 66 pages of miscellaneous information from a variety or sources.

Bob, can you e.mail me that photo of Abdiel, I haven't got that one. I tried to download it, but when I expanded the size it was very blurred.
Thanks again.
Stewart

[Dr Ron Kershaw]

SINKING of HMS ABDIEL

I can confirm that HMS ABDIEL was sunk in Taranto Italy by magnetic mine, whilst anchored just outside the main harbour at Taranto.

My father in law Able Seaman Eli Bentley was on Bridge Watch when the vessel entered the harbour in late evening and made fast to mooring buoys in preparation for disembarking Troops the next day.

He explained to me that a request was made to the Bridge for the ships degaussing equipment to be turned off, as the noise was making it difficult for troops below deck to sleep/rest before going ashore in the morning.

The Captain gave permission and the equipment was turned off. Magnetic mine(s) laid allegedly by midget submarine activated and the vessel, badly damaged below water, rolled onto her side and sank very quickly with little hope of survival for those below deck. Hence the large number of Army fatalities.

Two ratings were on the bridge at the time of the incident; one went over the side with the ship as it began to roll and was lost. My father in law went the other way and slid down the hull of the ship into the water and swam to a mooring buoy in the outer harbour.

Darkness made it very difficult to locate swimmers that did get off the ship and having clung on to the buoy he was rescued at first light by a small rescue craft manned by a member of his school class in Whitworth near Rochdale, with the words “Bloody Hell Bent’s, what are you doing here ?”

Having joined the Abdiel as a survivor from HMS Edinburgh when she went down in the Arctic he never did expand further as to his reply.

Although Eli Bentley died some years ago, his recollection of the Abdiel’s demise was VERY clear and factual. I hope his personal, first hand insight and involvement of the tragedy is helpful to other interested parties.

Dr Ron Kershaw (Son in Law)