| The open hatch from HMS Perseus (N36), a Parthian-class submarine sunk when it struck a mine on November 26, 1941, was the means of egress for Leading Stoker John H. Capes (September 22, 1910 – August 1986). The only survivor, he and 2 other submariners used Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus (DSEA) to ascend 171 feet (50 meters) to the surface and then swam 5 miles (8 kilometers) to Kefalonia. There, he hid among Greek islanders for 18 months until he was smuggled to Turkey. 60 officers and ratings died and remain on the wreck. HMS Perseus was discovered and surveyed in 1997 by a dive team led by Kostas Thoctarides (born December 21, 1968). Thoctarides has located 500 wrecks around the Greek islands. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0703.jpg |
| Image Size | 187.47 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1399 x 1115 |
| Photographer | Kostas Thoctarides |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | February 18, 1998 |
| Location | |
| City | Kefalonia |
| State or Province | Ionian Islands |
| Country | Greece |
| Archive | |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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