Even the sea of Crete hides a rich history, as there are many shipwrecks in it.
In Crete there are about 25 to 30 wrecks. This number is relevant as only a few areas have been explored. The shipwrecks of Crete date mainly from the Roman years.
It is worth mentioning that in Western Crete, which has been systematically explored, there are about 10 wrecks. 7 of them are ancient, 1 is probably Venetian and 2 are from the World War II.
The two shipwrecks of World War II were ships of the English Navy, which sank shortly after the Battle of Crete, and were discovered by an English archaeologist at the seabed of the island. The ships that had been sent to the area by Churchill’s command were sunk by German forces.
According to archaeologist Michael Bendon, who identified the ships, these were two troopships, which had been sent to the island in the last days of May 1941, after the fall of Crete to the Germans, to participate in the evacuation of the island from the British, the Australians and theNew Zealanders.
Τhe shipwreck of Gramvoussa
Becide the port of Gramvoussa looms the half sunk cargo ship “Dimitrios P”, 35 m. long. The shipwreck, which is now a characteristic feature of the area, sailed on December 30, 1967, cement loaded from Halkida to North Africa.
Due to the unfavorable weather conditions, the ship had to anchor with its two anchors on the south side of the island of Gramvoussa, at a distance of 200 m. from the coast.
On January 8, 1968, when the weather worsened, the right anchor chain was cut off and the boat grounded with its left side to the point where it remains until today.
