ALTRES

The wreck known as the Altress is the former German Vorpostenboot V-1605, a converted fishing trawler pressed into military service with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. These patrol boats were the workhorses of coastal defense, tasked with escorting convoys, hunting for submarines, and sweeping for mines. Stationed off the coast of occupied Norway and Denmark, the V-1605 Altress was a constant target for Allied forces seeking to disrupt German shipping lanes in the Skagerrak strait.

On September 21, 1944, the Altress met its end during an attack by de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bombers of the Royal Air Force. Struck by rockets and cannon fire, the vessel sank and now rests at a depth of 34 meters off the west coast of Sweden. The wreck is a favorite among local divers from Gothenburg, but its 'Dangerous' classification is a warning: its depth, potential for entanglement in fishing nets, and the challenging conditions of the North Sea require experienced divers. Those who make the descent are rewarded with the sight of a well-preserved WWII patrol boat, complete with its deck gun, offering a somber reminder of the conflict that once raged in these waters.