Did you know there’s an ‘underwater tank graveyard’ off the coast of Donegal?

In the word’s of Katie Price, never underestimate the sea! For what lies beneath our treacherous waters could surprise and delight you in equal measures - if exploring the waters off the coast of Donegal, you might even come across what can only be described as an ‘underwater tank graveyard’...

A diver named Rich Stevenson stumbled upon this war relic whilst shooting a video in 2010 and shared his discovery on Vimeo at the time.

As you’ll see from the screenshot in the tweet below, whilst minding his own business beneath the sea, Stevenson discovered an array of WW2-era Sherman tanks littering the seabed. Some of the sunken machinery has even flipped upside on its descent through the water.

https://twitter.com/FreakyTheory/status/475935381922127873 

 

The vehicles can be found on the seabed just 20 metres from Malin Head in Donegal, at a depth of approximately 65 metres. 

They are thought to have been there since September 8, 1944 when the SS Empire Heritage, a cargo ship carrying oil, US-made Sherman tanks and half-tracks, was torpedoed by a German U-boat. 

The tragedy killed a total of 113 people, with the ship apparently sinking at such speed that there wasn’t even time to send a distress call. 

To make matters even worse, the rescue ship that was sent to attempt to pick up survivors was also torpedoed by the Germans and suffered a similar fate, reportedly sinking in just 90 seconds.

You can watch the full eerie video by Rich Stevenson below:

Sherman tanks in Ireland from Richard Stevenson on Vimeo.