Wrecks

For full information on wrecks, detailing the circumstances of loss, photographs of the ships, positions where known and much more, the book for all wreck divers and which is a must for your bookshelf is South Coast Shipwrecks off East Dorset & Wight 1870-1979, available through www.southcoastshipwrecks.co.uk.

 

Wrecks in less than 10 metres of water, shallowest to deepest:

British steam barge CERES (believed), 38 tons, blown aground near Hurst Castle in November 1898. Single boiler and single cylinder engine. Depth 5 metres.

British steamer WHEATFIELD, 1963 tons, ran aground in dense fog at Rocken End near St Catherine’s Point in December 1882. Quite flat though a boiler still stands. Much wreckage has been pressed into the seabed through stress of ground swells. A rummage second dive in 6 metres.

British steamer CORMORANT, 2255 tons, ran aground in dense fog near Whale Chine in December 1886. Heavily salvaged at the time, the remains are quite flattened in about 6 metres on a seabed of sand and shingle.

British steamer CLAREMONT, 1129 tons, ran aground in dense fog in January 1881. Wreck is flattened and lies on a sand and shingle seabed in about 6 metres.

British steamer NEWBIGGIN, 1366 tons, ran aground in dense fog on Typit Ledge near Atherfield Point in April 1880. Wreck lies in 6 metres of water, very flattened and scattered, though the propeller and shaft stand clear. Wreck lies among clean, hard rock seabed, carved into strange features by the action of the sea. An interesting second dive with the chance of stumbling across artifacts from the many vessels wrecked here.

German steamer ESSEN, 1248 tons, ran aground in dense fog close to St Catherine’s Point in March 1881. Wreckage is very flattened and lies among a seabed of sand, shingle and rock in about 6 metres.

British wooden warship HMS POMONE, stranded on the Needles in 1811 but broke up and a substantial part drifted into Alum Bay. Timbers and keel pins show above the sandy/rocky seabed in 6-7 metres.

British steamer CASTLE CRAG, 2428 tons, ran aground in fog half a mile offshore in December 1883. Wreck is quite flat but extensive, lying among gullies and rock ledges. Two boilers and the windlass still there with areas of plate. A good second dive in 6-8 metres.

Greek steamer JOANNIS MILLAS, 2,071 tons, ran aground in fog half a mile offshore in January 1896. Wreckage lies among gullies and ledges. Boilers can be seen beneath debris, triple expansion engine exposed, lying hard to starboard, propeller shaft stands clear. Largely broken up in 6-8 metres but a good second dive.

 

Beneath the propeller shaft and supporting bearing on the SS Joannis Millas, and swimming over upstanding frames and girders

Photos courtesy of Hampshire & Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology

British steamer SERRANA. Bow section of this 3677 ton steamer lies on the Bridge Reef, Needles, where it came to rest after being torpedoed by UB-35 in January 1918. Well broken up but some cargo still evident in 7-9 metres.

Debris field from HMS GLADIATOR. This British cruiser sank in shallow water following collision in April 1908. The vessel was eventually raised, but much debris remains on the seabed as some of the vessel’s top hamper was cut away to facilitate salvage. Depth 7-9 metres on shingle seabed.

British steamer MECHANICIAN, 9044 tons, armed ocean escort ship, torpedoed by UB-35 in January 1918. Sank in the Needles Channel on the edge of the Shingle Bank and broke in two. Wreck covers and uncovers with shingle – sometimes buried, sometimes partly exposed. Depth varies considerably due to movement of shingle, but about 9 metres when exposed.

Wrecks in 10 to 20 metres of water, shallowest to deepest:

British steamer WAR KNIGHT, 7951 tons, set on fire and badly damaged in collision, taken in tow but struck a mine laid by UC-17 , and then shelled by our own forces in March 1918. Large upright wreck with 3 boilers and a turbine engine. Chain locker and windlass stand high at the bows. Heavily salvaged in the 1960’s but still an extensive wreck in 13 metres, and a good second dive.

 

 

 Diving the wreck of the War Knight. Ideal second dive in 13 metres

 Photos courtesy of Hampshire & Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology

British motor vessel MARGARET SMITH, 309 tons, capsized off Yarmouth in the western Solent in June 1978. An intact wreck lying on its side in 15 metres.

British steamer FERNCLIFFE, 547 tons, sank following collision in September 1883. Single boiler, propeller shaft and hull plating evident. Much wreckage buried in mud and slipper limpets. Depth 16 metres.

British steamer CLAN MACVEY, 5818 tons, torpedoed by UB-57 in August 1918. A large wreck, heavily dispersed but lots of wreckage poking up from the sandy seabed. Gun still there. A haven for flatfish and shellfish though the wreck can be somewhat silty. Depth 18 metres on sand seabed.

British steamer SERRANA, stern section of this 3677 ton ship torpedoed by UB-35 in January 1918. Vessel grounded on the Bridge Reef, broke in two, the stern section floating clear and sinking 1/4 mile away. Two boilers and engine there plus areas of plate. Gun on the seabed at the stern. Lots of life. Lies in 18 metres.

Wrecks in 20 to 30 metres of water:

British steamer ALGERIAN, 3837 tons, sank in the Solent while under tow after being mined by UC-5 in January 1916. Swarming with shellfish, this large wreck as supposedly dispersed in 1922 but she still stands 6 metres. Seldom dived, she is best visited on a good neap in spring or summer. Depth 22-25 metres.

American Landing Craft (Tank) 809, sunk under tow on 26 September 1945 after being brought back from the D Day landings in a damaged condition.   Lies in 21 metres of water on hard ground.  Hardly dived, but plenty of wreckage, with the bow door standing up 3 or 4 metres. 

Dutch wooden schooner FENNA, sank in heavy weather in 1881. Pile of cargo comprising railway lines, blocks of sheet glass and barrels of cement. This wreck is like an oasis in the desert – full of life. Depth 24 metres.

British Admiralty steam trawler ALBION II, 240 tons, mined by UC-5 in January 1916. Single boiler and small triple expansion engine stand up, leaning to port. Some wreckage at the bow and stern stands up, but otherwise the wreck is much buried. Depth 24 metres.

Dutch steamer BETSY ANNA, 880 tons, sank under tow in October 1926. Wreck has one main and one donkey boiler. Engine has fallen over. A largely upright wreck. Stern now skeletal. Bow points to the surface. Depth 26 metres.

French steamer VENEZUELA, 730 tons, torpedoed by UB-59 in March 1918. An upright wreck but broken. Twin triple expansion engines and two boilers stand up. Wreck is smothered in fish, and always a popular dive site in 28 metres.

British TANK LANDING CRAFT, unidentified, almost made it back from D-Day in 1944, upright in 28 metres. Twin diesel engines, huge stern capstan, ladders disappearing into the sand, bow ramp still there.

British steamer KYARRA, 6953 tons, torpedoed by UB-57 in May 1918. Probably the most dived wreck in the UK. Four boilers and twin triple expansion engines. Lots of cargo still in the wreck. Depth 28-30 metres.

Wrecks in 30 to 40 metres of water, shallowest to deepest:

Greek steamer SPYROS, 387 tons, foundered after springing a leak in December 1920. Wreck is upright and largely intact with a single boiler and compound engine. Swarming with fish, she is a popular dive in 30 metres though a metre or two more can be found on the seabed.

From left, cargo winch, stern tiller arm and steering engine on the wreck of the Spyros

Photos courtesy of John Liddiard www.jlunderwater.co.uk

Norwegian steamer ASBORG, 2751 tons, torpedoed by UC-75 in January 1918. Large single boiler and triple expansion engine stand up well. Evidence of steel cargo forward of the boiler. An upright wreck and a good dive in 30 metres.

From left, Asborg’s triple expansion engine, propeller, and operating levers on the engine

Photos courtesy of John Liddiard www.jlunderwater.co.uk

French motor vessel CARENTAN, 107 tons, capsized in heavy weather and sank December 1943. Twin diesel engines. Breaking up in 30 metres of water.

Norwegian Steamer BORGNY, 1149 tons, sunk in February 1918, presumed after striking a stray mine. Wreck lies mostly on its starboard side though the stern is almost upside down. Swarming with fish and a popular dive in 31 metres.

Irish steamer CASTLE REAGH, 443 tons, foundered in a storm February 1925. Single boiler and compound engine are the highest parts of the wreck. Depth 33 metres.

Dutch motor tug WITTE ZEE, 328 tons, sprang a leak and sank in February 1964 while undertaking a salvage operation. Upright, largely intact wreck, smothered in fish, in 33 metres. A good dive.

Skylights or lockers, broken anchor windlass and samson post on the wreck of the tug Witte Zee

Photos courtesy of John Liddiard www.jlunderwater.co.uk

British steamer WAPELLO, 5576 tons, torpedoed by UC-71 in June 1917. A large wreck which lies on its side in 33 metres.

British Admiralty steam trawler NEW DAWN, 93 tons, mined by UC-17 in March 1918. A small but interesting wreck, fairly broken. Single boiler and compound engine. Lots of life. Lies in 33 metres.

Belgian steamer INDUTIOMARE, 1577 tons, torpedoed by UC-61 in July 1917. Lying half over on her port side, one boiler is almost buried while the other stands up. Triple expansion engine stands clear, leaning to port. Lies in an area which covers and uncovers. Gun on the stern. Depth 34 metres.

British steamer BRAEDALE, 406 tons, sank through stress of weather in October 1932. Wreck lies on its starboard side with a single boiler and triple expansion engine. Swarming with fish, and a popular dive in 35 metres.

Norwegian steamer MOLINA, 1122 tons, torpedoed by UB-35 in January 1918. Upright from midships forward. Two boilers and triple expansion engine stand up. Stern area flattened. Lots of life, and a popular dive in 35 metres.

British Admiralty steam trawler WARWICK DEEPING, 445 tons, shelled in October 1940. Armed anti-submarine vessel completely upright and largely intact still looking like a ship, with the wheelhouse still standing and gun on the bows. A popular dive in 36 metres.

British Admiralty motor vessel HMS BOREALIS, 451 tons, bombed by aircraft in August 1940. Lying half to starboard, this barrage balloon vessel is reasonably intact, though the bow section is badly damaged. Lies in 38 metres.

British submarine HMS UPSTART, 648 tons, sunk as a sonar target in July 1957. More or less upright and intact but leaning to starboard. Her bridge, conning tower and propellers have been removed. Depth 38 metres.

British barquentine ROSE HILL, 200 tons, lost in collision in September 1900. Broken and fairly flattened in 38 metres.

British steamer FALLODON, 3,012 tons, torpedoed by UC-71 in December 1917. Wreck lies on its port side across the tide in 38 metres. Two boilers, one still in the wreck, triple expansion engine visible beneath hull plate. Gun at the stern.

British Admiralty steam trawler CRESTFLOWER, 367 tons, bombed by German aircraft and sunk in July 1940. Single boiler and triple expansion engine, bow gun lying on the seabed port side of the bows. Depth 38 metres.

British steamer BARON GARIOCH, 1831 tons, torpedoed by UC-63 in October 1917. Upright wreck with triple expansion engine and two boilers standing up. Gun at the stern. Lies in 38 metres.

British steamer SOUTH WESTERN, 674 tons, torpedoed by UB-59 in March 1918. Wreck is lying on its starboard side with one boiler exposed and the other visible under hull plating. Triple expansion engine on its starboard side.  Seabed depth about 38 metres.

Wrecks in 40 to 50 metres, shallowest to deepest:

British steamer TWEED, 1025 tons, torpedoed by UB-59 in March 1918. More or less upright in 40 metres with two boilers and a triple expansion engine leaning heavily to starboard. Debris lies off the wreck to starboard. A good dive.

British steamer SAXMUNDHAM, 2537 tons, sunk in collision on 4 November 1888.  Large wreck lying in 40 metres of water.  Wreck covers and uncovers with sand – when exposed there’s a lot to see, with 2 large boilers, broken compound engine, bow heavily on its starboard side and broken iron hull and fittings throughout the site. Lies on clean white sand usually giving good light reflection and good vis.

Irish steamer LAPWING, 841 tons, lost in collision in July 1872. Lies across the tide, her compound engine lies hard over to starboard and her single boiler and donkey boiler lie close together. Fairly flat in 40 metres.

Spare propeller, stern post and main compound engine on the SS Lapwing.

Photos courtesy of Dave Robbins

British steamer REDESMERE, 2123 tons, torpedoed by UB-40 in October 1917. Lying half over on her port side. Two boilers and triple expansion engine amidships. Gun at the stern. Depth 40 metres.

British steamer BRITANNIA,(believed), 765 tons, torpedoed by UC-75 in October 1917. A small wreck with two boilers and a triple expansion engine lying on its starboard side. Depth 40 metres.

Canadian steamer ALBERT C FIELD, 1764 tons, bombed by aircraft in June 1944. Lots of small pieces of exploded ammunition. The triple expansion engine and boilers is right aft and the bridge is right forward. Everything in the middle was cargo space. Depth 40 metres.

British steamer WESTVILLE, 3207 tons, torpedoed by UB-35 in December 1917. Lying half to port, this large wreck lies across the tide and has a stern gun, two boilers which have rolled a short distance from the wreck and a large triple expansion engine which leans to port. The whole bridge has slipped onto the seabed. Depth mainly 40 metres though 2 or 3 metres deeper can be found just off the wreck.

British steamer MENDI, 4230 tons, sank following collision in February 1917. Large wreck with 4 boilers and triple expansion engine. She is armed with a stern gun. Wreck has settled half to starboard. More than 650 men, most of them South African military labourers, lost their lives in the sinking. Depth 40 metres.

French steamer BRESTOIS, 348 tons, sunk in collision in March 1918. Compound engine lies on its port side, single boiler, bow lies on its port side.  Broken but parts cover and uncover in 40 metres.

French steamer LISTRAC, 778 tons, shelled in October 1940. Upright wreck with a single boiler and triple expansion engine fitted aft. Depth 40 metres.

British steamer TERLINGS, 2318 tons, bombed by aircraft in July 1940. Deep scour amidships. Two boilers and triple expansion engine stand up. Wreck lies half to starboard in 40 metres, though 45 metres can be found in the scour.

French steamer AZEMMOUR, 897 tons, torpedoed by UB-59 in March 1918. Upright wreck with two boilers and a triple expansion engine standing up. Fairly intact from midships forward. Stern gun. Depth 40 metres.

British steamer IDUNA, 859 tons, sank following collision in May 1883. Upright and remarkably intact aft of the boilers.  Two boilers and a compound engine stand up. The bow section lies to starboard and is skeletal. Coal cargo evident aft of the engine. Depth 40 metres.

British steamer EMPIRE CRUSADER, 1042 tons, bombed by aircraft in August 1940. Two boilers evident, one standing on end. Engine covered with plating. Gun at the stern. Depth 40 metres.

Dutch steamer AJAX, 942 tons, bombed by aircraft in August 1940. Lying half to port, one of her two boilers is almost buried in sand. Triple expansion engine stands up. Bow section lies on its port side. Depth 40 metres.

British steamer ELEANOR, 1980 tons, torpedoed by UB-57 in February 1918. Upright wreck with two boilers and a triple expansion engine which lies on its starboard side. Cargo of mines and depth charges. Aft of the engines, the wreck tends to flatten out. Gun at the stern. Depth 40 metres.

British steamer COQUETDALE, 1597 tons, bombed by aircraft in August 1940. Large area of plating amidships blown outwards. Two boilers and triple expansion engine stand up. Depth 40 metres.

British motor vessel POOL FISHER, 1028 tons, sank in heavy weather in November 1979. Lies upside down in 40 metres.

Belgian steamer ESPAGNE, 1463 tons, torpedoed by UC-71 in December 1917. Well broken and fairly flat. Triple expansion engine lies on its side and one of the two boilers stands on one end. Lots of fish. Depth 40 metres.

Norwegian steamer BRAATT II, 1834 tons, torpedoed by UB-30 in March 1918. Lies on her port side. Triple expansion engine lies almost upside down. Two boilers. Bows lie on their port side fairly flattened. Quite a lot of wreckage along the port side of the wreck. Depth 40 metres.

Belgian steamer LONDONIER, 1870 tons, torpedoed by UC-71 in March 1918. Upright wreck with two boilers and triple expansion engine standing up well. Gun lies on its side at the stern. Depth 40 metres. A good dive.

Diver on the wreck of the SS Londonier

Photos courtesy of Hamish Morrison

British steamer HARTLEY, 2147 tons, sank following stress of weather in November 1924. Wreck lies half to starboard. Triple expansion engine lies on its starboard side. Two boilers. Depth 40 metres.

Belgian steam trawler NEREE (believed), 230 tons, sank after springing a leak in February 1926. Wreck lies on its starboard side. Single boiler and triple expansion engine leans hard to starboard. Large winch immediately forward of the boiler. Depth 40 metres.

British steamer CLARINDA, 1075 tons, sunk in collision in October 1885. An upright wreck with two boilers and compound engine, with scattered plating and other wreckage lying to starboard. Depth 40 metres.

British Admiralty steam drifter WATERLILY, 82 tons, sunk following collision in July 1915. Single boiler and compound engine. A small wreck in 40 metres.

Italian steamer GALLIA, 2744 tons, torpedoed by UB-40 in October 1917. Wreck lies on its port side. One of her two boilers stands on end, with the triple expansion engine lying under hull plating. A large wreck in 40 metres.

Italian steamer DERNA, 2260 tons, sunk in collision in December 1912. Two boilers, triple expansion engine lies almost upside down. A 40 metre dive.

British motor vessel ASHANTI, 534 tons, torpedoed by E-boat in June 1944. Broken and flattened in 40 metres.

British sailing barque SIMLA, 2288 tons, sank in January 1884 following collision. Full of cargo such as bottles, plates, cement, glass, traction engines. Upright wreck where the sides have collapsed outwards, leaving a hump of cargo. Several large anchors at the bows.  Extensive wreck in 40 metres.

Danish steamer AVANTI, 2128 tons, torpedoed by UB-59 in February 1918. Two boilers and triple expansion engine. Depth 40 metres.

British steamer ORIFLAMME, 3764 ton tanker, mined by UC-63 in November 1917. Two boilers and triple expansion engine evident at the stern in 40 metres, donkey boiler has rolled down the slope in 46 metres. Not a dive for the faint hearted. Vessel lies in an area affected by strong tides producing eddies and overfalls which has scoured the rock seabed clean. Lying on her starboard side, the stern is the highest part. Spare propeller amidships.

Norwegian steamer CUBA, 731 tons, sunk in collision in February 1917. Upright in 42 metres, single boiler and compound engine being the highest parts.

Images from the SS Cuba – conger, porthole and main compound engine

Photos courtesy of Dave Robbins

French sailing ship ERNEST LEGOUVE, 2246 tons, torpedoed by UB-30 in April 1917. Leaning over towards her starboard side, the stump of the mainmast rises above the wreck. Many large, barrel shaped objects in the wreck, some of which have spilled to the seabed. Deep scour amidships of 45 metres, though this is generally a 40 metre dive.

British steamer EVERLEIGH, 5222 tons, torpedoed by U-1017 in February 1945. A large wreck with three boilers and a triple expansion engine. Depth 40-42 metres.

British steamer APARIMA, 5704 tons, torpedoed by UB-40 in Novbember 1917. Three boilers and twin triple expansion engines. Bows broken and falling back. Gun on the seabed starboard side of the stern. 40 metres depth but 42 metres in the scour at the stern.  A good dive.

British Admiralty motor yacht HMS SARGASSO, 216 tons, struck a mine and sank in June 1943. Twin oil engines and twin propellers. Broken in the centre, the stern section is upright, the bow section leans to port. Depth 43 metres.

HMS Sargasso

Photo from the Donald Thomas collection, courtesy of Ian Thomas

British steamer CLEDDY, 2173 tons, sank following collision in December 1889. Upright with two boilers and a compound engine which has fallen to starboard. The bow is now skeletal and almost disintegrated. Depth 42 metres.

British steamer FLUENT, 3660 tons, mined by UC-65 in July 1917. Large wreck, more or less upright. Three boilers and triple expansion engine, which lies on its starboard side. Cargo forward of the boilers look like shells – they are in fact steel billets. Gun at the stern. Depth 40 metres but 43 metres can be found just off the wreck.

British steamer MYRTLEGROVE, 2642 tons, sank following collision in November 1917. Two boilers amidships one of which has rolled to the seabed. The triple expansion engine is accessible beneath hull plating. Gun at the stern. Wreck lies on its port side and stands quite high. Depth 40 metres though 44 metres can be found in the scour at the stern. An excellent dive.

Norwegian steamer START, 728 tons, torpedoed by UB-58 in December 1917. Small upright wreck with a single boiler and donkey boiler. Triple expansion engine lies on its port side. Foremast still standing. Depth 43 metres.

British Admiralty steam drifter JOHN MITCHELL, 89 tons, sunk in collision in November 1917. A small wreck with a single boiler and triple expansion engine leaning to port. Small gun at the bows. Depth 43 metres.

From left – builder’s nameplate after restoration, signalling lamp, builder’s nameplate, anchor lamp, bell and bracket, compass and 2 gallon rum flagon, and rum flagon after cleaning, recovered from the wreck of the John Mitchell

Centre photo courtesy of Dave Robbins

Norwegian steamer AALESUND, 414 tons, torpedoed by UC-71 in January 1918. Single boiler and triple expansion engine. Wreck is twisted – bows upright, stern section upside down. Depth 43 metres.

Danish steamer VERA, 662 tons, sank following collision in January 1874. Upright with a single boiler and two donkey boilers. Compound engine leans over. Broken in 46 metres.

British steamer DAYLESFORD, 1406 tons, sunk in collision in April 1911. Two boilers and a compound engine stand up. Coal cargo remains in the wreck. Largely upright but broken in 46 metres.

Main compound engine side lever, main propeller and main compound engine, SS Daylesford.

 Photos courtesy of Dave Robbins

British paddle steamer NORMANDY, 550 tons, sunk in collision in March 1870. Two boilers and a compound engine. Upright in 48 metres. Amidships machinery section comprising boilers and engines very intact. Only the outline of the bow section visible above the seabed.

British Admiralty steam trawler MICHAEL CLEMENTS, 324 tons, sank after collision in August 1918. Upright in 48 metres and armed with a bow gun. Single boiler and triple expansion engine.

Wrecks in 50 metres to 60 metres of water, shallowest to deepest:

German steamer MESSINA, 1,063 tons, sunk in collision May 1885. One boiler and compound engine. Upright, hull broken, with cargo of iron ore forming a large hump in the wreck. Depth 50 metres.

British LANDING CRAFT. D-Day tank landing craft, identity unknown. Lies in 51 metres. Upright and intact.

Greek steamer MEANDROS (believed), 4309 tons sunk in collision February 1934. A large wreck, lying on its port side in 55 metres.

Norwegian steamer KONG GUTTORM, 731 tons, torpedoed by UB-103 in July 1918. Wreck is in two upright pieces, the bow section at right angles to the stern section, joined by a debris field. Single boiler plus donkey and triple expansion engine standing up. Depth 55 metres. A good dive.

Danish steamer NORMA (believed), 1997 tons, captured and scuttled by UB-37 in January 1917. Large wreck, collapsed to port. Two boilers and engine leaning hard to port. Bow section broken and pointing vertically, standing 6 metres. Depth 55 metres. A good dive.

Danish steamer INGER, 786 tons, captured and scuttled by UC-18 in December 1916. Two boilers and triple expansion engine stand up. Upright in 55 metres.

Norwegian steamer VIKHOLMEN, 494 tons, torpedoed by UC-71 in September 1917. Single boiler and triple expansion engine stand up. Lies across the tide upright in 60 metres.

British steamer DUMFRIES, 5149 tons, torpedoed byU-772 in December 1944. Large wreck in 57 metres but 43 metres to the top. Lies partly over to starboard. Three boilers and quadruple expansion engine. Gun at the stern.

British clipper ship SMYRNA, 1372 tons, sank in collision in April 1888. Upright wreck in 54 metres but 57 metres can be found in the scour at the stern. Masts and spars lie on the seabed. Some rigging still stands on the port side. Lots of cargo. Classic clipper bow.  A superb dive.

GERMAN U-BOATS. WW1 vintage, surrendered on the Armistice and scuttled in 1921. A number of boats lying in 58 metres.

American motor ship Y48, 633 ton tanker sunk by our own forces in January 1945 because she was in a sinking condition. Stands 8 metres, upright and quite intact with a slight list to starboard. Small gun on the bows. Depth 58 metres.

German U boat U-480, 761 tons, presumed mined in February 1945. Type VIIC U-boat, the wreck is largely intact with a covering of Alberich, a rubber coating designed to neutralise the effects of Asdic. Deck guns in place. Wreck lies in in 58-60 metres.

Wreck of the U480, from left, direction finding aerial, periscope parts and anchor winch

Photo courtesy of John Liddiard www.jlunderwater.co.uk

British LANDING CRAFT. D-Day tank landing craft, identity unknown. Lies in 59 metres. Upright and intact.

Wrecks in 60 to 70 metres of water, shallowest to deepest:

British steamer EL KAHIRA, 2034 tons, foundered in a storm in July 1922. Large wreck with four boilers and a broken triple expansion engines. More or less upright in 60 metres. A good dive.

British steamer BISHOPSTON, 2513 tons, torpedoed by UC-16 in September 1917. Two boilers and a triple expansion engine. Lies in 60 metres.

Estonian steamer KOLGA, 3526 tons, bombed by aircraft in July 1940. Large, upright wreck with two boilers and a triple expansion engine. Much lost fishing gear on the wreck, lying in 60 metres.

British sailing barque WAITARA, 883 tons, sank in collision in June 1883. Upright wreck in 60 metres full of export cargo comprising bottles, jars, crockery etc.

American steamer ASHMUN J CLOUGH, 1791 tons, torpedoed by U-989 in August 1944. Upright and largely intact but swathed in lost fishing gear. War cargo of tank tracks, tyres and other military stores. Depth 60-62 metres.

Greek steamer IOANNOS FAFALIOS, 3,122 tons, sank after collision in May 1928. Large upright wreck, with two boilers and a triple expansion engine being the highest parts. Depth 60-62 metres.

British steamer LUXOR , 3571 tons, torpedoed by UB-57 in March 1918. Two boilers and a triple expansion engine stand up. Bow section has broken off and rests against a cliff face. Upright in 60 to 62 metres.

German U-boat UB-37 (believed), 263 tons, sunk by gunfire from a Q-ship in January 1917. Wreck lies in 62 metres, bow gun still attached. Ready use ammunition on the seabed. Twin screw, bow torpedo cap open, hatch aft of the engines fallen off.

British motor vessel GUERNSEY COAST, 650 tons, sunk in collision in August 1964. Wreck is upright and almost intact, standing 13 metres in 62. Large V shaped hole port side aft where collision took place. Very good dive.

British steamer BADGER, 89 tons, captured and scuttled by UB-18 in August 1916. Steel steam coaster sunk in 1916. Single boiler and engine are prominent. Tar cargo can be seen in the wreck. Depth about 62 metres.

Norwegian steamer OIEKAST (believed), 600 tons, shelled by U-53 in December 1917. Upright but broken, there is a single boiler and triple expansion engine fitted aft. Depth 62 metres.

Unidentified steel sailing ship, possibly the Russian HERMES, captured and scuttled by U-33 in April 1915. Stern leans to starboard and stands 8 metres, bows lean to starboard and stand 6 metres, in a depth of around 63 metres. Excellent dive.

British steamer SPHENE, 740 tons, captured and scuttled by UB-18 in August 1916. Single boiler and triple expansion engine fitted aft. Bow area broken up, the stern section is more interesting. Depth 65 metres.

French sailing barque EUGENE SCHNEIDER, 2218 tons, sank in collision in December 1926. Packed cargo of railway sleepers remain in the wreck, depth about 67 metres.

British steamer ISLEWORTH, 2871 tons, torpedoed by UC-17 in April 1918. Not for the fainthearted. Wreck is remarkably intact (wheelhouse floor still above the boilers), but strong tidal streams and the proximity of vertical and transverse reef walls make this a challenging dive. Two boilers and a triple expansion engine. Gun at the stern. Wreck stands 9 metres. Depth 60-70 metres.

French steamer ALBERT, sank in circumstances unknown in 1885. Two boilers and compound engine. Lies on a slope in 64-70 metres. A good dive.

German light cruiser SMS NURNBERG, 4200 tons, sunk by our own forces in July 1922 to test our guns against its armour plating. Lies across the tide. Armoured gun turrets, conning tower, twin bow windlasses, twin propellers are prominent on the wreck, which stands 12 metres in 60-62 metres.  A good dive.

 

 

From top left – steering gear on SMS Nurnberg, twin bow windlasses and an unidentified feature. Bottom left – gun and turret, capstan and propeller

Photos courtesy of Dave Robbins.

Danish steamer ASGER RYG, 1134 tons, torpedoed by UB-29 in April 1916. Largely upside down in 70 metres.

A number of German U-boats in depths between 60 and 80 metres, of the type U (ocean going), UB (coastal) and UC (minelaying). All surrendered after the Armistice and scuttled in 1921. Reported to include U-122, U-123, U-152, U-153, UB-122, UC-110.

Wrecks in 70 to 95 metres of water, shallowest to deepest:

Russian motor vessel GORIZONT, Russian factory ship/spy ship of 4404 tons, sunk in collision in December 1975. Stands 20 metres in 72 metres.

British steamer OLIVINE, 635 tons, captured and torpedoed by U-33 in April 1915. One boiler and a triple expansion engine are the highest parts of the wreck. Cargo of granite chippings still lie in the wreck, which is upright in 70-72 metres.  A good dive.

German motor vessel AUGUSTENBERG, 3639 tons, sunk in collision in April 1962. Large wreck which lies on its side in 74 metres.

British steamer HILDA LEA, (believed), 1328 tons, torpedoed by UB-35 in December 1917. Wreck lies on its starboard side with the bows almost upside down. The two boilers have rolled out. Depth 82 metres.  A good dive.

Norwegian steamer BORGSTEN, 1718 tons, torpedoed by UC-64 in December 1917. A wreck thought to be the BORGSTEN lies in 95 metres of water.

Wrecks yet to be located/identified: British steamer NETLEY ABBEY, 1630 tons, lost in collision in 1899.  British steamer OLIVE BRANCH, 1728 tons, lost in collision in 1885. British steamer FLAXMOSS, 286 tons, foundered in storm conditions in 1887. Belgian steam trawler HILDA, 169 tons, lost in collision in 1895.  British steamer CLYDE, 307 tons, sank after springing a leak in 1902. British steamer DUNCRAG, 563 tons, foundered in heavy weather in 1904. Spanish steam trawler DOLORES, 67 tons, sprang a leak and sank in 1906. British HMS TIGER, 400 tons, collision in 1908.  British steamer HOPEDALE, 1746 tons, lost in collision in 1908.  Norwegian steamer SPIRAL, 1342 tons, captured and scuttled in 1916.  British steamer GLYNYMEL, 1394 tons, captured and scuttled in 1917. British  HMS BRUCE, 1530 tons, expended as a target in 1939.British steam tug SECURITY, 189 tons, foundered in a storm in 1946. Some of these will lie in the shipping lanes – an area I try to avoid for diving – but it means discoveries are still there to be made.