24.08.2009
P31, ex. Pasewalk, sunk infront of Comino:
Sunk : August 24.2009 Malta
Length over all: 51.98 Metres,
Beam: 7.12 Metres,
Draft: 2.3 Metres.
Engines: 2 Russian MD 40 Diesel with 4000 HP
Speed: 20 kn
The P 31 was build at the Peenewerft, Wolgast for the former East German Navy in 1969.
After the German unification P 31 (Pasewalk)was used together with her sister ships P 29 (Boltenhagen) and P30 (Ueckermünde) for border duties from Bundesgrenzschutz. All three vessels have been sold shortly after as unarmed patrol crafts to Malta where guns where added again and the ship been brought in to border duties again..
The sinking
At about 12:30 at August 24. 2009, app. 1 ½ hours before the scheduled sinking, P 31 found her watery grave just outside Crystal Lagoon of Comino Island in only 18 Metres of Water.
First Impressions:
Due to the location is diving the P 31 only possible from a boat.
Like every wreck, even one just been sunk has something mystic. Even the fact the water being so clear that you can the P 31 already from the surface can't change it. Like all wrecks purposely sunk around the Maltese Islands, all doors, windows and hutches have been removed what makes it kind of difficult to lock yourself in.
The depth of just over 18 Metres makes it an ideal object for nearly any level of diving experience. It is just a pity that the P 31 hasn't been cleaned very well in the inside. Nearly the complete wall panelling have been left inside. Where some of the panelling came of pointy screws sticking in to narrow passages.
Since the ship is lying very shallow the slightest swell will affect the wreck. It is to expect that remaining panelling is coming of the walls and makes penetration dives difficult.
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