Two pieces from the ship Carentan join the Normandy Victory Museum
On December 21, 1943, caught in a storm, the ship Carentan sank, resulting in 17 French and British deaths. In 1984, Anthony Reed discovered the wreck and recovered two pieces. Sixty years later, he wished to donate them to a museum, and it was to the Normandy Victory Museum that they are now visible to our visitors.
The “Carentan” submarine hunter no. 5 (CH-5)
In April 1939, submarine chaser No. 5 (CH-5) was commissioned by the French Navy. After participating in the Battle of France and the evacuation of Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo), it was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and then made available to the FNFL (Free French Naval Forces) from the summer of 1940, under the name “CARENTAN”.
On December 21, 1943, while escorting a submarine, the ship Carentan was caught in a storm off Portland (England) and sank, resulting in 17 deaths on board, French and British.
Anthony Reed discovers the wreck of the ship Le Carentan
It was only in 1984 that a British diver, Anthony REED, discovered the wreck of the Carentan ship and brought two pieces to the surface: the ship's bell and the panel bearing the military motto "Valor and Discipline".
For decades, these two historical relics decorated Mr. Reed's living room. But a few months ago, he approached Steve White to donate the pieces to a museum, believing they would be perfectly at home there.
Steeve White offers the pieces to Normandy Victory Museum
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, the Normandy Victory Museum had the honor of receiving two exceptional historical pieces, brought in person by Mr. Steve WHITE, responsible for receiving maritime wrecks for “His Majesty’s Coastguard”, in the presence of Jean-Pierre LHONNEUR, mayor of Carentan-les-Marais.
