However, today the site is considered to be victim to many salvage attempts, with the cockpit section now missing as well as the mid-upper turret and its twin Browning machine guns. On 13th December 1941 on a mission to Kefalonia in Greece, this Blenheim bomber was attacked en route by an Italian enemy aircraft damaging its port engine. First deliveries of the Blenheim Mark I were made to the RAF in March 1937 and by January 1938 the first Blenheim’s went to overseas squadrons. It sank in 1941 after being attacked by German aircraft. Here’s our guide to some of the best. This is a fabulous dive. The plane was a twin-engine light bomber aircraft that typically carried a crew of three, about 13 m in length with 17.2 m wingspan. 18 Squadron. Scuba Life Malta, Mellieha Picture: Blenheim Bomber - Engine from rear - Check out Tripadvisor members' 16,193 candid photos and videos. Although there remains no doubt that it is indeed a Blenheim, this aircraft’s specific identity and call sign are yet to be established. These plane wrecks are between 32 and 42 m deep. Malta Map 1941. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The Blenheim Mk.IF followed and this was evolved along the lines of a night fighter. The Operational Echelon was Detached to Malta in October 1941.. Approximately 21,000 engines were produced, and saw widespread use in both civilian and military aircraft throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Scuba Life Malta, Island of Malta Picture: Blenheim Bomber - Wing - Check out Tripadvisor members' 162 candid photos and videos of Scuba Life Malta The average visibility is 21-25ft/6-8m. Blenheim was built by Bristol Aeroplane Company and served in British Royal Air Force. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. These cookies do not store any personal information. It was originally built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company where it served in the British Royal Air Force. Impressed by its performance, faster than the newest Royal Air Force (RAF) biplane fighters at the time, a modified design was ordered by the RAF, to be used as a bomber. They were eventually replaced by much small 3 man Mark IV Blenheim. For technical divers there are the airplane wrecks of Junkers Ju 88 and B-24 Liberator Bomber at 55 m, Fairey Swordfish at 70 m, Douglas A-1 Skyraider at 96 m, and another Junkers Ju 88 at 106 m depth. A wreck of a Bristol Blenheim Bomber plane, that presumably crashed during World War 2 when a squadron of Wellington Bombers were stationed in Malta. Sold Out! 18 Squadron left Malta for Agosti Harbour, Greece. Explore historical images of the Blenheim Bomber. This is a fabulous dive. Malta was a significant military and naval fortress, being the only Allied base between Gibraltar and Alexandria, Egypt. The cockpit cover is also missing, and the rear fuselage has broken off and lies a few metres away, in front of the main plane wreckage, upside down and mostly buried in sand. An effort to tow the aircraft was made, however, the Blenheim sunk soon after. It was a light bomber aircraft of about 13m in length and 17.2m in wingspan. Blenheim Bomber The Aircraft was developed as Type 142, a Civil Airliner, in response to a challenge from Lord Rothermere to produce the fastest Commercial Aircraft in Europe. Het is een van de beste duikstekken in Malta maar wel voor de ervaren duiker. It offered a haven for British shipping to and from those places, but it also gave the British an excellent staging platform of offensive thrusts against naval, land, air and … The Bristol Blenheim was a light bomber used by the Royal Air Force during the opening years of World War II.One of the first modern bombers in the RAF's inventory, it conducted the first British air attacks of the conflict, but soon proved highly vulnerable to German fighters. Other airplane wreck dives around Malta are Bristol Beaufighter and Lockheed P2V Neptune. From a depth … The crew was picked up by the Dgħajsa and taken to the Kalafrana seaplane base. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. A short piece showing some underwater footage of the Blenheim Bomber in Malta This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The Blenheim Mark IV was introduced as an upgraded model in 1939, forming the bulk of the just over 6,200 Blenheim aircraft produced. The wreck was first discovered in 1965 by Al Gatt, a local spear fisherman. When it crashed into the sea it landed on its belly, and the fore section of the fuselage was smashed off and separated from the plane. Blenheim Bomber - Malta. Intended as a long-range fighter to supplement the short-legged Hurricane which was the main fighter type at this time, the Mk IF was fitted with four .303 Browning machineguns in a belly pack to give it a suitable punch. The decision was made to ditch the plane at sea, and when the crew spotted a Maltese Dgħajsa, they decided to ditch nearby. Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a RAF Bristol Blenheim Mk. The Bristol Blenheim Bomber is an airplane wreck in Malta from World War II. It is one of the best dive spots in Malta for the more experienced diver. It will be well known that political parsimony and faulty strategic judgment by air commanders resulted in Malta being almost bereft of fighter aircraft in June 1940. The cockpit cover has also disappeared and this might suggest the crew safely evacuated prior to ditching. Even as the original Mk.I bomber was being introduced back in 1937, the design was already losing out to newer aircraft - it carried an inadequate bombload for its role as a bomber and lacked the offensive punch to be considered a useful heavy fighter. At one point a squadron of Wellington Bombers were stationed in Malta, but their long range was much needed elsewhere. For many divers, the Maltese archipelago is all about the wrecks. Gatt informed the RAF Sub-Aqua Club about the discovery, with divers descending to the site in 1968. Dimensions: Wingspan: 9-1/4-inches Length: 7-1/4-inches Release Date: May 2009 == The tail end is partially buried in sand with what is left of the main fuselage. With a twin-engine it carried a maximum of three people. Only two aircraft succeeded in reaching the target area and jettisoned their bomb load. The Bristol Blenheim was powered by two Bristol Mercury nine-cylinder, air-cooled, single-row, piston engines. Diving the Wreck of Bristol Blenheim Z7858. The process of degradation is accelerated due to the presence of multiple types of metals and other materials that erode more rapidly when in contact with each other. Blenheim was built by Bristol Aeroplane Company and served in British Royal Air Force. There is another airplane wreck nearby, Mosquito Fighter Bomber. This is a deep boat dive for experienced divers with sometimes strong currents. At one point, a squadron of Wellington Bombers were stationed in Malta but their long range was much needed elsewhere. The Maltese archipelago lies fairly central in the Mediterranean Sea, about 90km south of Sicily with Libya slightly further away to the south. The aircraft quickly begins to take shape as you descend. A WW2 Fighter-Bomber shot down in December 1941. Vanaf 20 meter diepte worden de contouren van het vliegtuig zichtbaar. Originally there was a pilot’s seat too but it has been taken away. The Blenheim Mk I light bomber, which entered operational service in 1937, was the basis for Mk IF (Fighter) variant and the subsequently improved Mk IV light bomber. Blenheim Bomber is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Marsascala, Malta. The Virtual Museum | Underwater Malta | 2020. De Bristol Blenheim was een lichte bommenwerper, ontworpen en geproduceerd door de Britse vliegtuigfabrikant Bristol Aeroplane Company.Het toestel was tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog in gebruik bij de RAF.Daarnaast werd het toestel ook door de fabrikant Fairchild in Canada geproduceerd voor de Canadese luchtmacht However, by early 1941 additional squadrons were required, several of which arrived in Malta and remained stationed there well into 1942. The wreck of a Bristol Blenheim bomber located in the south of Malta off Xrobb L-Għaġin, has been identified as forming part of the No. The Blenheim was equipped with two Mercury engines, each driving a three-bladed propeller and each capable of reaching speeds of 852hp at a rated altitude of 13,000ft. Gatt informed the RAF Sub-Aqua Club about the discovery, with divers descending to the site in 1968. Wreck Blenheim Bomber. Bristol Blenheim Bomber is a World War II airplane wreck dive in Malta. When the Tailwind was judged more favourable, Tom departed for the 2nd time from his intermediate stop at Gibraltar for Malta with his No.18 Squadron Blenheim Bomber Detachment on 29th October 1941 this time successfully, in ‘only’ 6hrs-45mins. She now lies at 42m in the Mediteranean Sea off Malta. Aerial of RAF Luqa from 9,000ft The wreckage is not marked on any chart and with its low underwater profile, will not be easily detected by survey equipment. Today, the wreck of this Blenheim Mark IV lies at a depth of 42 metres a few hundred metres outside Xrobb l-Għaġin. The wreck was first discovered in 1965 by Al Gatt, a local spear fisherman. Bomber Command. Words and Photographs by Charles Hood. The Bristol Blenheim Bomber was a RAF plane which was ditched in the sea when it had been damaged by a German aircraft. On the return to Malta, one of the Blenheim’s was chased by an Italian aircraft, causing damage to its port engine. At the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Blenheim bombers were stationed in two home-based squadrons and eleven overseas squadrons. 82 Squadron, which was deployed to defend Malta during 1942. The engine was designed by Roy Fedden in 1925, and developed out of the earlier Bristol Jupiter engine. It became a linchpin in the British Empire overseas—a vital way station along Britain's lifeline, through Egypt and the Suez Canal to India and the Far East. The Bristol Blenheim is a British light bomber aircraft, designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane company. The aircraft had a 3-member crew; a polit, a navigator-bomb aimer and a wireless operator-air gunner. 18 Squadron. Today, the wreck is a popular dive destination for scuba divers. In December 1941, five Blenheim’s from the No. The Bristol Blenheim Bomber lies 42 meters deep, surrounded by small reefs. Ditched 12/13/1941 The prop from the port engine was shot off by the attacking Italian Macchi C200 fighter. 18 Squadron left Malta for Agosti Harbour, Greece. The condition of the site was reported to be very good, including the intact cockpit. Its history is unclear, but when it crashed inot the water it landed on its belly, loosing the front of the cabin and nose wheel. http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?130793, Short url here: https://maltadives.com/4931. We are talking about the Bristol Blenheim which was designed and built by the company named Bristol Aeroplane Company back in the early 1930s and was later used by the British Royal Air Force as well as the many other world militaries for almost 2 decades. Bristol Blenheim Bomber wreck is located about 500 m off Xrobb l-Ghagin on the east coast of Malta. Further deterioration is noted, with the skeleton of the wings visible. See Blenheim from 4.35Mins. The Blenheim Bomber is one of the best dives in Malta! The Bristol Blenheim is a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the first two years and in some cases throughout the war Second World War.The aircraft was originally developed as a civil airliner the Type 142 in response to Lord Rothermere‘s challenge to produce the fastest commercial aircraft in Europe. The wings and engines are virtually intact although the port side propellers are missing. The wreck of a Bristol Blenheim bomber located in the south of Malta off Xrobb L-Għaġin, has been identified as forming part of the No. The bomber was initially designed as a commercial aircraft, first flying in April 1935. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The Bristol Blenheim is a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company (Bristol) which was used extensively in the first two years and in some cases throughout the Second World War.The aircraft was developed as Type 142, a civil airliner, in response to a challenge from Lord Rothermere to produce the fastest commercial aircraft in Europe. They were eventually replaced by the much smaller 3 man Mark IV Blenheim. Maltaqua, St. Paul's Bay Picture: Blenheim Bomber - Check out Tripadvisor members' 3,668 candid photos and videos. The Italian aircraft broke contact and the Blenheim was left with smoke pouring from the destroyed engine and flying at little more than 30 metres above sea level. The Bristol Blenheim Bomber is an airplane wreck in Malta from World War II.| Techwise Malta Het wrak ligt op het zuidelijke einde van Malta, minder dan een kilometer van de kust van Xrobb il_Ghagin. The crew survived with minor injuries. The Bristol Blenheim entered Bomber Command service in 1937, with No. The Blenheim Bomber was a WWII aircraft that served in the English air forces. THE SUPPLY OF AIRCRAFT TO MALTA BY SEA . The Bristol Blenheim is amongst the engine’s more famous users. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The badly damaged Blenheim made it to Malta, only to be prevented from landing at Luqa when another bomber was being taxied out. Type 142 1st Flew in April 1935, and the Air Ministry, impressed by its performance, ordered a modified design as the Type 142M for the RAF as a Bomber.. The loss of structural integrity highlights how essential the documentation of sites like this this is! Scuba Life Malta, Mellieha Picture: Blenheim Bomber - Engine from rear - Check out Tripadvisor members' 16,199 candid photos and videos of Scuba Life Malta For freedivers, there is the wreck of Dornier Wal XI flying boat at 12 m depth in Gnejna Bay. The wreck is located at the southern end of Malta, less than a kilometer off the coast of Xrobb il-Ghagin. The Mark IV was outfitted with two Bristol Mercury XV engines, a stepped nose section, armour plating, additional external bomb load capacity, and included the additional of a twin dorsal gun turret and remotely controlled guns fitted under the nose section. In the late 1980s the wreck site was still being described as well preserved. This exciting offshore dive, 800 m from nearest point, is restricted to experienced divers because of the depth and condition of this World War II Blenheim Bomber. February 2021. But for the fortuitous discovery of four crated Sea Gladiators in store at Malta which became operational 3.5.40, the four Hurricanes flown out via France and Tun The Blenheim struck the sea tail first, considered a perfect ditching, and remained intact and floating, giving the crew time to safely escape. Malta Diving Courses - Experience Diving in Malta. The engine was designed by Roy Fedden in 1925, and developed out of the earlier Bristol Jupiter engine. The condition of the site was reported to be very good, including the intact cockpit. Bomber’s wings and radial engines are mostly intact; starboard engine still has a bent propeller but port engine propeller is missing. Attempts at lessening the weight were made by jettisoning the bomb load and heavy equipment, with the crew’s parachutes also being sacrificed. It is dived by boat, but not all dive Centers know of its exact location. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Only two aircraft succeeded in reaching the target area and jettisoned their bomb load. The airplane wreck lies upright at a depth of 42 m on a seabed of sand and small reefs. The aircraft for today is the light bomber aircraft of which many heavy fighter and bomber variants were also produced. Full film of a dive on the wreck of a Blenheim bomber aircraft at 42m off the south coast of Malta in June 2013. Although there remains no doubt that it is indeed a Blenheim, this … IV light bomber that was attached to No. When it came to the Mediterranean theatre of war in late 1940, Blenheims formed part of three RAF squadrons, mainly targeting Axis shipping across the Mediterranean. At least 1,180 Beauforts were built by Bristol and other British manufacturers. By the time of the Munich crisis in 1938, sixteen home based squadrons (Of Nos.1, 2 and 5 Groups) were equipped with the Blenheim … Blenheim Bomber - Malta This aircraft is located approximately 800 meters due east of Xrobb l-Ghagin at a depth of 42 meters. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 114 squadron, and soon became one of the command’s most important aircraft. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. De Bristol Blenheim Bomber ligt op 42 meter diepte, omringd door kleine riffen. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The plane was a twin-engine light bomber aircraft that typically carried a crew of three, about 13 m in length with 17.2 m wingspan. Bristol Blenheim Bomber is a World War II airplane wreck dive in Malta. In December 1941, five Blenheim’s from the No. Blenheim turned back to Malta where the pilot had to ditch the plane in the sea. A pair of 140-gallon tanks fuelled the engines and were housed within the centre fuselage. The maximum depth is 131-140ft/40-43m. The Bristol Blenheim was powered by two Bristol Mercury nine-cylinder, air-cooled, single-row, piston engines. The smaller size of the Bristol Mercury was aimed at fighter-use, and from 1935 onwards the smaller diameter of the Bristol Mercury variant Mark VIII, ensured it became the popular choice for fighter and high-speed bomber aircraft. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The Bristol Beaufort (manufacturer designation Type 152) was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber. Malta's Bristol Blenheim Bomber is known to be the only one of its kind in the world and consequently this is a very interesting and historically important wreck. In Depth | Malta's Wrecks.
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