THE TRAGEDY of the sunken Russian submarine, the Kursk, has evoked memories for a naval enthusiast who as a young man photographed a doomed submarine at Latchford Locks.

In autumn 1950, Dennis Chapel, then aged 19, was among the witnesses who gathered to watch the Royal Navy submarine, the Affray, as it passed through the locks on its way to the Manchester Ship Canal.

Dennis, now aged 70, said: "Word would get round on the grapevine when ships were coming through and I used to collect their names.

"When I heard about the Affray I jumped on my bike and cycled down to the docks.

"It was an impressive sight - I'd seen a few destroyers, but this was the only submarine I ever saw and it was the ultimate as far as I was concerned. I had my first camera with me - the sailors were all on top, waving and shouting, in jokey mood, and they all wanted to get on the pictures."

But just a few months later, many of the men in Dennis' cherished photos were dead.

On Monday, April 16, 1951, the Affray failed to surface after a dive during exercises in the English Channel. Despite the efforts of rescue crews, all 75 crew members perished.

Said Dennis: "I was horrifed - it was similar to the Russian sub, but of course the equipment was even cruder in those days. I remember waiting and tuning in for more news - it was all over the newspapers and the radio.

"Then we heard they had all drowned. It was tragic."

Though a broken snorkel pipe was blamed, many questions still remain unanswered about the Affray's mysterious disappearance - the vessel was discovered miles off course and was never raised.

For Dennis, this week's grim news was an eerie echo of the earlier tragedy, now nearing its 50th anniversary.

"Like everyone else, I've been glued to the TV this week - it's very sad," he said.

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