LST 507

[The Old Ruminator]

Location Lyme Bay
Wreck ( half )
Depth 50m

It is hard to believe that most wrecks in Lyme Bay were wrongly identified 20 years ago. This one was listed as a trawler. Both Alan Dunster and I independantly identifed the two Landing Ships Tank from Operation Tiger.I then spent hours trying to decide which wreck was which. Identical ships with identical cargo both torpedoed midships. Looking at tha attack pattern and sinking data did not help but from a survivor I learned that 507 launched her forward boats and 531 did not.( both carried 6 )Alan reckons that a small boat is trapped under the bow of the other LST so that is how the two were told apart. We could still be wrong.

This is the stern of "507 "The bow is some distance away.Note identifying features- Prop guards when she is beached or in shallow water. Long landing skegs and shallow draught.

[The Old Ruminator]

Photos etc from previous posts.





One of the small boats




The 507.

[The Old Ruminator]

The big tubes on the weather deck are ventilators for the internal tank deck.The Lsts in Tiger were carrying petrol vehicles and men on the tank deck. Vapour turned the 2 ships into a roaring inferno and hundreds of men were incinerated before the could get out.

[The Old Ruminator]

The Bow Section

[The Old Ruminator]

Er um well it is a newspaper report. I was a young man then !

[The Old Ruminator]

The first 2 pages of Eugene Eckstams Tiger newsletter. You may have to magnify the image to read it. Dr. Eckstam was MO on the 507. He told me I would know his ship as his dress uniform was in his locker in the wardroom.Dr Eckstam had to shut the tank deck hatches on the screaming men below as part of the fire containment. He could never forget that. I have much more on file if anyone wants further information.

[The Old Ruminator]

A pontoon or causeway jettisoned during the attack is at

50 24 29 N 02 52 13 W OGB

[The Old Ruminator]

LST General Arrangement from Dr Eckstams files.

[The Old Ruminator]

DUKW as on Tiger.

[jinksie]

Nick.
I have photos of the prop guards and also the air shafts from inside the tank deck somewere, i'll try to sort them out & post them.
Graham

[jinksie]

[jinksie]

The two photos above show the prop guards & rail.
Air shafts from the tank deck.

[S.E.U.K]

LST 493 aground on Plymouth Breakwater 1945.She was eventually scrapped,whats left of her lies scattered along the breakwater.

[jinksie]

Well i did not know that was there, ive dived quite alot around that area and not noticed. Must clean my mask. Thanks for the info. i will have a look.
Graham

[jinksie]

This is on the tank deck , looking at the ramp, this LST has had a steel panel welded in front, but as the photo shows, they are cutting that away,front big doors open then the ramp is lowered by chains, like a drawbridge.. basic but it works.
Graham

[jinksie]

Chain Locker, there is one each side the doors, these chains are for the ramp
Graham

[jinksie]

LST Data plate, fixed in the engine room

[jinksie]

One for Nick,, Engine room.

[S.E.U.K]

Colour pic of LST 493 on Plymouth breakwater

[jinksie]

Wheelhouse and lookout posts .
The 2003 Tiger reunion filmed by both German and UK film crews for TV. The German doc went out on Discovery , but the UK footage has yet to be aired.