Den franske jageren Bourrasque tok del i den allierte evakueringen av Dunkirk i mai 1940, Operation Dynamo, og hadde på sin siste reise seks hundre franske soldater ombord. Nær bøyen ved Nieuwport ble Bourrasque tatt under ild fra et tysk artelleri batteri og truffet. Jageren ble raskt oversvømt, og mannskap og over seks hundre franske soldater begynte å gå i livbåtene og hoppe vannet. 559 soldater kom fra senkingen med lvet i behold. Bourrasque sank på en dybde av tjuefem meter, og ble funnet i 1984. Kun baug og deler av motorrommet er idag synlig, mens akterdelen er begravd i sanden rundt vraket...

The French destroyer Bourrasque took part in the allied evacuation of Dunkirk in May 1940, Operation Dynamo, and had on her last journey six hundred French soldiers on board. Near the buoy at Nieuwport Boutrrasque was taken under fire from a German artillery and hit. The destroyer started quickly to flood, and crew and over six hundrerd French soldiers started to get in the lifeboats and jump in the water. 559 soldiers got away form the sinking with their lifes safe. Bourrasque sank on a depth of twenty five meters, and was found in 1984. Only bow and part of the engine room is today visible, while the stern is buried in the sand around the wreck...

 

Name:
Former names:
 Material:
Dimensions:
Bourrasque
  
Steel
347,0x 33,0x 13,7 f.
       
Brt \ Nrt: Built: Homeport: Cargo:
1458 \ Dunquerque ( F ) 1925 ( F )  

 

 

Only a part of the wreck is above the sand these days, mainly the bowsection and a part of the engineroom. The sternsection is completely vanished under the sand. This destroyer was identified only in 1984 after the finding of French ammunition (130 mm shells) and finally by her ensign (head of a wild boar).

 

N 51 14,964 E 02 33,026
Picture: © Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Stuttgart
Thanks to Pandora for the suplementary information.


Edited 29.06.2007