Sunken Coast Guard Ship Finally Found After 108 Years

Over a century after it was sunk by a German U-boat, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa has been found off the coast of the United Kingdom. The sinking of the Tampa on Sept. 26, 1918 was the single worst naval combat loss of WW1 for the US, resulting in the deaths of 111 Coast Guardsmen, four US Navy personnel and 16 British civilians and Navy personnel. Admiral Kevin Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard, underscored the importance of the discovery in their press release.

"When the Tampa was lost with all hands in 1918, it left an enduring grief in our service," said Lunday. "Locating the wreck connects us to their sacrifice and reminds us that devotion to duty endures. We will always remember them. We are proud to carry their spirit forward in defense of the United States."

Where was the Tampa found?

In 2023, the Coast Guard was contacted by the British dive team Gasperados, who were looking for more information on the Tampa. The Coast Guard supplied them with information, including archive photos of the ship and other technical data to assist in finding the wreck site. The Gasperados team of volunteers worked for three years using the data, and was finally able to locate the ship in the Bristol Channel, at a depth of over 300 feet. Gasperado's team leader, Steve Mortimer, shared a similar sentiment to Lunday after the discovery.

"Tampa is of huge importance to the United States and the relatives of everyone who died that day," said Mortimer. "Their final resting place is known at last."

In a post on Facebook, Mortimer thanked the Coast Guard and other historians for their help in locating the wreck. He also shared that the Gasperados are working with the Coast Guard on the next steps and that video of the wreckage will be available for publication.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 4:17 PM.