S 57 Wreck

Experience level: advanced divers 
Depth: 20 – 38 m
Boat ride to location: 60 minutes
Currents: none

The wreck of the German torpedo boat S 57 is perhaps the most famous in the southern Adriatic. It is the only preserved wreck in the class of fast torpedo boats today protected by law, and diving on it is allowed only with a dive instructor from an authorized diving center - luckily for you, we have that authorization. 

The 30 m long, 3.5 m wide, and 1.5 m high wreck is located about two nautical miles south of the islet Lirica, along the southern coast of Pelješac, but how did it get there? Let’s start from the beginning.
S 57 was built at the height of the Second World War, in 1940 in the German shipyard Luerssen - Vegesack, which specialized in the construction of smaller combat vessels. According to the data collected by the historian and researcher of underwater wrecks Danijel Frka, this ship spent the first three years of its existence in war service in the North Sea, then in 1943 it was transferred to the Tyrrhenian Sea, and a year later to the Adriatic. Here it was included in the 3rd flotilla of torpedo boats of the German Navy, in the so-called Schnellboote or "S" flotilla, based in Rijeka Dubrovačka. S 57, together with other ships from the flotilla, participated in securing German convoys in the area of the southern Adriatic, defending them from attacks by British torpedo boats that were then based in Komiža on the island of Vis. 
S 57 set sail on its last war mission on August 18, 1944, when, along with four other torpedo boats of this type, it protected a group of assault ships that were involved in the search for survivors at the scene of the battle that took place the previous night (in the area between Korčula and Mljet).
That night they were ambushed by British ships that opened fire. After being hit multiple times, a fire broke out, and all attempts to extinguish it and tow it to shore, even with the help of other ships of the S flotilla, were completely unsuccessful.
The Pelješac terrain at this place is extremely steep and inaccessible, so running aground on the shore was out of the question. The decision was made to destroy the ship with explosives. At exactly 4:32 a.m., the ship sank to its eternal resting place, at a depth of 20-38 meters. 

The sandy bottom greeted S 57 where it rested on its starboard side. Its steel structure is still awe-inspiring, and everything wooden on the ship has rotted away. This gives it a unique look and the ability to see every corner of the famous wreck. Of course, excellent visibility of the sea also contributes to all this! 

The bow of the S 57 lies at the shallowest part while the stern of the ship is located much lower, at a depth of 38 meters. Touring the entire wreck is extremely exciting and attractive, and what catches the eye the most are the two torpedo tubes installed in the bow with ejection covers on the port and starboard sides. The bow gun that was located between these pipes has unfortunately been removed, but the red anchor windlass is visible because of the sponge.
Overgrown with blue and red sponges on the steel ribs, the ship has a special antique patina, and the space between the ribs is home to numerous shoals of fish.
In the bowels of the ship, one can still discern the place of the explosion that caused the sinking and the thin steel profiles at the bottom that still connect both of its parts. 

Among the heavy weapons on the wreck, two torpedoes can be seen attached to the deck and the base of the MG 15 machine gun, which unfortunately disappeared without a trace. Another such empty stand is also at the stern, but that’s why the excellently preserved 20 mm anti-aircraft gun is still here and moving on its stand (although we ask all divers not to move the gun to protect it as much as possible for future researchers) 

Numerous parts of the ship are visible - from the ship’s screws, the device for creating artificial fog, the remains of the engine in the engine room, and it is possible to crawl into the bow part where there are remains of the woodwork. Three propulsion engines can be seen inside the ship. 

This torpedo boat is not completely without a crew! His crew is made up of eels, octopuses, Phycis phycis, Mediterranean rainbow wrasse, urchins, red scorpionfish, and the bottom is sifted by mullets, sand steenbras, and white seabream. 

A trip to this wreck is only possible for private and group tours (min. 10 divers) and includes an additional cost of speedboat transportation due to the remoteness of the location.