THIS WEEK IN 1975: Soviet ships sinks off Isle of Wight

The bow of the Russian factory ship, Gorizont, protrudes from the sea 22 miles south of St Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight

Russian trawlers mounted guard over the wreck of one of their sister-ships which sank after a collision with a Moroccan cargo vessel off the Isle of Wight.

A succession of Royal Navy warships ignored Soviet warnings to keep away from the area – 22 miles south of of St Catherine’s Point –where the 4,400-ton training ship Gorizont went down in 30 fathoms.

The guided missile destroyer, HMS London, which went to the scene to search for possible surviviors, kept station all night until she was replaced by the frigate HMS Penelope the following day.

According to a Russian message by Nitron radio station, the entire crew of Gorizont, which included two men injured in the collision, were transferred to other Russian vessels which sped to her rescue.