The SS Thistlegorm – built by JL Thompson and Sons yard in 1940 – has lain on the Red Sea bed since it was sunk by German bombers while carrying supplies to the Eight Army in Egypt the following year.



But the wreck, discovered by undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau, has become a major attraction for tens of thousands of divers from across the world every year, pumping millions into the Egyptian economy.

"It's one of Sunderland's greatest exports," said scuba expert Peter Collings, who has been diving the Thistlegorm since 1992.

Peter, from County Durham, has set up a travel firm – called Aqua Tours – which provides escorted dives of the Thistlegorm and other Red Sea wrecks.

He said diving enthusiasts from the North East will soon benefit from direct flights from Newcastle Airport to Sharm El Sheikh, which are due to start in November.

The Thistlegorm has been likened to an underwater military museum, with features on board such as armoured cars, anti-aircraft guns, bomb shells, gun carriers, a steam train and the captain's bath.

After she was launched on Wearside, the 400ft-long vessel's first voyage was to the U.S. and back with steel rails and aircraft.

The Thistlegorm made further successful cruises to South America and the West Indies before sailing from the Clyde in 1941 to meet her destiny, when she was sunk by German bombers looking for a secondary target after failing to find the Queen Mary.

Details about her final voyage and much more are included in a new book written by Peter Collings, called From Sunderland To Sha'Ab Ali – The Story Of The Thistlegorm.

It contains archive and underwater photos, and reports from the inquest held in Sunderland into the sinking – which took the lives of nine crew members – and includes a witness account by a 19-year-old survivor from Fulwell.

For details about Peter's book, call 01207 504160 or email deeplens@aol.com