Warspite's damaged hull and the shallow water around the reef frustrated repeated attempts to refloat her. In 1950, salvors used 24 compressor tanks, but could not create enough buoyancy or depth to clear the wreck, and the guard vessel Barnet was itself damaged and drifted ashore. Further work moved Warspite toward St Michael's Mount, where Falmouth tugs continued trying to shift her. Compressors aided by two jet engines from experimental aircraft eventually moved the hulk about 130 feet closer to shore. By summer 1955, on-site cutting had disposed of the wreck in what was probably the largest salvage operation undertaken in British waters.
Notable Point · 1:12:18-1:14:31
Compressors, tugs, and jet engines struggle to move the wreck
Repeated salvage attempts used compressed air, tugs, and experimental jet engines before Warspite was shifted closer to shore and dismantled in place.