Pietro Orseolo

The Pietro Orseolo is a 145-meter Italian cargo ship built in 1939 and requisitioned by the Germans for use as a "Speerbrecher" (blockade-runner). She is located some thirty meters off the Glénan archipelago. She suffered an air attack on March 30, 1943 off Vigo, Spain, while returning from a convoy to Japan. Torpedoed by an American submarine, she managed to reach a German convoy and then Bordeaux to repair the damage. On December 18, 1943, while anchored in Concarneau Bay in Finistère, she fell victim to another RAF attack. The fires on board were brought under control, but caused so much damage that the Kriegsmarine decided to tow her to Lorient for repairs. Just off the Glénan archipelago, the Pietro Orseolo broke in two and quickly sank with her cargo, which included several tanks and halftracks. Underwater photo credit:Pascal Collin

The Pietro Orseolo is a 145-meter Italian cargo ship built in 1939 and requisitioned by the Germans for use as a Speerbrecher (blockade-runner). She is located some thirty meters off the Glénan archipelago. She suffered an air attack on March 30, 1943 off Vigo, Spain, while returning from a convoy to Japan. Torpedoed by an American submarine, she managed to reach a German convoy and then Bordeaux to repair the damage. On December 18, 1943, while anchored in Concarneau Bay in Finistère, she fell victim to another RAF attack. The fires on board were brought under control, but caused so much damage that the Kriegsmarine decided to tow her to Lorient for repairs. Just off the Glénan archipelago, the Pietro Orseolo broke in two and quickly sank with her cargo, which included several tanks and halftracks. Underwater photo credit:Pascal Collin