Léopoldville
Belgian liner built in Antwerp in 1928–29 and used as a troopship, torpedoed by U-486 on Christmas Eve 1944 about five miles off Cherbourg while carrying American soldiers of the 66th Infantry Division; about 763 of them died. The wreck lies on its port side at roughly 50–60 m, with the upper hull side at about 38 m. It was listed as maritime cultural property in 2001 and is a place of remembrance.
Facts
- Region: France – Atlantic & Channel
- Area: Normandy & Cotentin
- Depth: 38–64 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: strong
- Type: wreck
- Coordinates: 49.7661, -1.6056 (approximate)
- Highlights: Belgian troopship lying on its port side, war memorial (763 US soldiers lost), deep hull at 38–40 m
- Permit: Diving requires prior authorisation under an order of the maritime prefect for the Channel and North Sea (Préfecture maritime de la Manche et de la mer du Nord); entering the hull and removing bones are prohibited and human remains are protected by the Penal Code. Ask a Cherbourg dive centre that holds the authorisation. Check current rules. (Source: vvanat.fr)
- Issuer / contact: Préfecture maritime de la Manche et de la mer du Nord
- official website could not be reached during research; contact details not verified
- Tips: Deep, cold, low-visibility dive in strong tidal current: decompression/technical diving only, and only with prior authorisation from the maritime prefect. Do not enter the hull or touch any remains; there may be munitions.