DATELINE: 8 August 2002

DIVERS INVESTIGATE HMS MANCHESTER
The wreck of WW2 Gloucester class cruiser HMS Manchester, sunk in 1942 off the coast of Tunisia, is being examined by a team of divers for the first time.
Veterans from the ship have gathered to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the ship, which was part of Operation Pedestal - the convoy which beat the German blockade of Malta and saved the island from being forced to surrender.
The team of technical divers led by Simon Bennett, are filming the wreck for a TV documentary and trying to establish the extent of the damage to the ship.
HMS Manchester was scuttled by her captain after being hit by torpedos. He was later court martialled, much to the disapproval of the crew, who maintained that the ship was too damaged to continue. The survivors are hoping that divers can gather enough evidence to establish that the captain had no choice, and clear his name.
The expedition website is on www.HMSManchester.com

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