The Blockships

Introduction

As tensions mounted in Europe in the years before the First World War staff at the British Admiralty became increasingly concerned about the security of the harbour defences at Scapa Flow, a debate that was to run until the early years of World War Two.  Many felt that U-boats could not reach Scapa from their bases in Germany and, even if they could, the ferocious tides that ran through the channels between the surrounding islands made them impassable anyway. However, with the declaration of war in August 1914 and with relentless pressure from senior Royal Navy figures including  Admiral Jellicoe himself, Captain Stanley Dean RN was given the job of making Scapa secure by blocking the navigable entrances with booms, nets and blockships. As planning proceeded there were two infamous incidents in September and October 1914 where unfounded sightings of U-boat periscopes in Scapa Flow resulted in ships firing salvos inside the cramped waters of the Flow – thankfully no-one was injured in the process. The presence of U-boats was absolutely confirmed on the night of 22nd November when the periscope of U-18, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Henirich von Hennig, was spotted in Hoxa Sound and the submarine was rammed by the trawler Dorothy Gray. U-18 plunged to the seabed but Von Hennig brought her back to the surface and surrendered. As HMS Garry pulled alongside and started taking off the German sailors the submarine sank beneath the surface, scuttled by her commander to stop her falling into the hands of the British.

With this confirmation of the danger of an attack and an increased urgency, the blockships began to arrive later that month. The operation was not an easy one. The ships had to be sunk at the brief respite of slack water and were often moved around by the tide as they sank. In the rush to seal off access many of the ships were not even stripped of their fittings before they were manoeuvred into the desired position and the bottoms blown out of them. By the end of the war twenty one ships of various types and sizes had effectively blocked every entrance except Hoxa, Switha and Hoy Sounds. These broader channels were used by the naval ships and were controlled by a complex series of booms and nets. Even then, when HMS Vanguard blew up in mysterious circumstances in July 1917, there was initially heavy speculation that a U-boat had penetrated the defences and sunk the ship. The last U-boat to actually attempt to make an attack in World War One was UB-116 which was caught and destroyed in Hoxa Sound in the last few days of the war.

As the war ended and the defeated German fleet steamed into incarceration in Scapa Flow the controversy that seemed to surround the blockships at all times erupted again. This time the problem was that the local fishermen who, before the war, had used many of the now blocked channels, were now demanding the removal of the sunken ships to avoid the long, expensive voyage round the islands as they made their daily trips to the fishing grounds. In particular the eastern entrances at Kirk and Water Sound became the focus of a long running wrangle between the Orcadians and the Admiralty.

In June 1919 the Admiralty finally announced its intention to clear a navigable channel through each entrance. However it took the loss of the lives of three locals, their rowing boat smashed against the hulk of the Reinfield in Skerry Sound, to finally provoke substantive action. Work began in August 1920 when the East Coast Wrecking Company of Dundee were hired to clear Kirk Sound. Kirk Sound was blocked by four ships – Numidian, Aorangi, Minieh and Thames. The Aorangi was refloated in September and towed towards Roseness but she grounded and was abandoned only a few hundred yards from her original position. After this first step, the work faltered and finally stopped.

The issue reached a peak in July 1921 when questions were asked in the House of Commons by Sir Malcolm Smith MP. By this time the Admiralty, who had previously accepted the need to clear the channels around Scapa, refused to accept any responsibility. The situation became so serious that it became an election issue until the Admiralty reluctantly agreed to remove the Numidian and also the Lorne which lay in Water Sound. In January 1923 the East Coast Salvage Company were in Kirk Sound working on the Numidian. They succeeded in removing much of the stone ballast placed into the ship to keep her in position and turned the wreck parallel to the tidal stream but could not raise her until the following year. The controversy continued as the work to remove more ships stumbled on. In the summer of 1930 an attempt to remove the Thames failed and in August 1931 the Lorne was dispersed by explosives. From this point the issue gradually died and the islands returned to the tranquillity of pre war days.

By June 1938, with the growing tensions in Europe as Hitler rose to power in Germany, the Navy’s attention again returned to the defences of their base. Booms were again installed and the blockships were surveyed to assess their effectiveness. This survey revealed that, while East Weddel and Skerry Sounds were safe, both Water Sound and Kirk Sound were passable. On 15th March, 1939 Seriano was sunk in Kirk Sound but this failed to secure this entrance. A series of debates ensued that would, in the end, contribute to the sinking of HMS Royal Oak on 13th October and the loss of eight hundred and thirty three British sailors’ lives. The Admiralty insisted that a limit of £10,000 should be placed on the purchase of ships to be used as blockships despite growing concern among the Navy’s senior commanders and even the actual outbreak of war. On 8th September Cape Ortegal was sunk in Skerry Sound and the same month Lake Neuchatel was purchased, destined for Kirk Sound. However, before she reached her resting place on 13th October, U-47 sneaked through the gap in Kirk Sound and fired five torpedoes at HMS Royal Oak, before retracing the route, back through Kirk Sound, and returning to Germany where her commander, Gunther Prien, became an instant national hero.

After this disastrous episode the blocking of the channels became an urgent priority and by the end of World War Two nineteen ships had been sunk around the islands. However, the ghost of the Royal Oak continued to haunt the Navy with many “sightings” of U-boat periscopes inside Scapa. Finally a massive expenditure was approved to build permanent barriers across all the minor channels and to seal the base once and for all. More than 60,000 concrete blocks were placed at a cost or more than £2 million – the Churchill Barriers.

Today the wrecks of many of the blockships remain in place. A number are visible above the surface and scattered across the seashore close to the barriers – a permanent reminder of the history of the now deserted naval base and the tragedy of HMS Royal Oak.

1 – KIRK SOUND (BARRIER NO 1)

KIRK SOUND BLOCKSHIPS – LOCATION CHART

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORLD WAR ONE

NUMIDIAN

The steel steamship Numidian was launched from the Meadowside yard of D and W Henderson and Co Ltd (Yard No 356 ) on 9th June 1891.  She measured 400.0′ x 45.2′ x 23.3′ and her tonnage was 4907 gross tons, 3182 net tons.  She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by D and W Henderson delivering 582 nominal horse power.  Built for J and A Allan and Co Ltd., Glasgow she was first registered on 10th August 1891 with her maiden voyage from Glasgow to Montreal departing on 20th August.  She operated for the Allan Line throughout her career almost exclusively shuttling back and forth across The North Atlantic between Scotland and various Canadian ports. Adjustments to her layout and fittings resulted in various updates to her tonnages which, by the start of World War One, were 4836 gross, 3107 net. On 24th December 1914 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty to be used as a blockship. She was scuttled in Kirk Sound on 30th December that year. She remained in her original position across the channel throughout the war but was moved to her current position in 1923 after substantial salvage.

The large wreck of the Numidian lies in position 58° 53.657’N, 02° 53.910’W. Her broken wreckage is 115 metres long oriented 090/270 (stern to east) parallel to the shoreline  in 3-7 metres of water rising only 1 metre from seabed.  The bow section is most in tact.  Propeller, propeller shaft, engine and boilers are all missing, presumably removed during salvage operations. 

MINIEH 

The iron steamship Alsatia was launched from the Meadowside yard of D and W Henderson, Glasgow on 7th January 1876.  She measured 356.7′ x 36.2′ x 29.4′ and her tonnage was 2790 gross tons, 1794 net tons.  She was powered by a compound steam engine by her builder delivering  789 registered horse power.  Built for Henderson Brothers of Glasgow her engines were replaced by more powerful triple expansion engines delivering 1418 horse power in 1899 when she became part of Henderson Brothers’ Anchor Line fleet.  She was sold to the Khedivial Mail Steamship and Graving Dock Co Ltd., London in 1901 and re-named Minieh.  At this point her registered tonnage was 2766 gross tons,  1772 net tons.  She was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship in 1915 and sunk in Kirk Sound on 27th February 1915. She broke her back shortly after she sank but remained in place and a substantial, effective barrier.

The wreck of Minieh lies where she was scuttled in two large sections in position 58° 53.450’N, 02° 53.833’W in 18 – 22 metres oriented east/west with bow to east. The bow and stern sections rise to around 11 metres making this one of the larger blockship wrecks.

THAMES

The steel steamship Thames was launched from the Govan yard of Robert Napier and Sons Ltd, Glasgow (Yard No 418) on 10th December 1889.  She measured 436.3′ x 50.2′ x 33.4′ and her tonnage was 5645 gross tons, 3369 net tons.  She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by her builders delivering 607 nominal horse power.  She was ordered by the Royal Mail Steamship Company, London and served for this company for her entire career.  In 1914 she was sold to the Forth Shipbreaking Co Ltd but before she could be broken up she was requisitioned by the Admiralty to be used as a blockship at Scapa Flow.  She was scuttled in Kirk Sound on 7th January 1915.  The wreck was partially salvaged after the war with her more valuable fixtures and fitting including her propeller removed.  However, despite some later reports that the wreck was substantially removed, the wreck of the Thames is one of the larger remaining wreck sites among the blockships.

The wreckage of the Thames lies in position 58° 53.498’N, 02° 54.191’W in depths of 7 – 12 metres. The scattered wreckage is approximately 130 metres long and almost 20 metres wide. The wreck is oriented north/south with the stern section to the north. The stern is the most obvious recognisable feature with none of the key machinery features (engine, boilers etc) visible.

AORANGI

The steel steamship Aorangi was launched from the yard of John Elder and Co Ltd, Glasgow (Yard No 281) on 2nd October 1883. She measured 388.9′ x 45.9′ x 23.6′ and her tonnage was 4163 gross tons, 2655 net tons. She was powered by a compound direct acting steam engine by her builders delivering 600 registered horse power. In 1894 she went through a major refit including the installation of a more powerful triple expansion steam engine by the Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd, Newcastle delivering 739 nominal horse power. Built for the New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd, London and registered in Lyttelton, New Zealand she began service on the New Zealand to London route. By1896 her ownership had transferred to the Canadian Australian Royal Mail Line, London, a joint venture between the New Zealand Shipping Company and Huddart and Co of Melbourne, Australia. Finally, in 1910, she was purchased by the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand. In 1914 she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship. She was scuttled in Kirk Sound on 10th August 1915 in a position abutting the stern of Numidian.

After the conclusion of World War One pressure from the local fishing community forced the Admiralty to begin and effort to open up the channels blocked by the sunken ships. One of the few vessels actually raised was the Aorangi which was refloated in 1920 and towed to her current position east of the Kirk Sound. The wreckage of the Aorangi lies in position 58 53.409 N, 002 51.797 W. She lies on a sandy stone seabed in 12 metres. As portions of the vessel, including her engine and propeller shaft are missing, it would appear some salvage was carried out after she was moved. The most recognisable feature of the wreck are the remains of her four single ended Scotch boilers. The bow section is also somewhat in tact.

 

WORLD WAR TWO

SORIANO

The steel steamship SNA4 was ordered by the Societe Nationale D’Afrettements of France from the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan (Yard No 169) but immediately after her launch on 1st August 1917 she was requisitioned by the United States Navy and named USS Lake Taho.  She measured 272.2′ x 43.9′ x 24.9′ and her tonnage was 3843 gross tons, 2186 net tons.  She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by her builders delivering 443 nominal horse power.  At the end of the war she was overhauled and re-entered service for the US Navy as USS Evansville.  Purchased by M and J Tracey of New York in 1925 the SS Evansville operated for this company until 1937 when she was acquired by the Montevideo General Construction Company of Uruguay who named her Soriano.  During the early preparations for World War Two, as concern grew about the rise of the Nazis in Germany, Soriano was acquired by the Admiralty and was among the first wave of new blockships sunk in the entrances to Scapa Flow to strengthen the base’s defences in anticipation of the conflict to come.  She was scuttled in a position reported as 58° 53.624’N, 02° 54.113’W on 15th March 1939.   Despite her position in Kirk Sound she did not stop U-47 entering Scapa in October that year to sink HMS Royal Oak. She became redundant when Churchill Barrier No 1 across Kirk Sound was completed. The wreck was completely removed in 1948.

LAKE NEUCHATEL

Laid down as Billiter Buildings the turret design steel steamship Claveresk was launched from the Pallion, Sunderland yard of William Doxford and Sons Ltd (Yard No 379) on 31st January 1907. She measured 350.4′ x 50.1′ x 2.4′ and her tonnage was 3829 gross tons, 2441 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by her builders delivering 292 nominal horse power. Built for the Claverhill Steamship Company of London the vessel was to have multiple names (Renfrew 1919, Ulvermead 1920, Mari 1921, Houstone 1937) under multiple owners before she was purchased by C Strubin and Co Ltd of London in 1938 and named Lake Neuchatel. Her career with this final owner was to be short as she was requisitioned for use as a blockship by the Admiralty in 1939 and scuttled in Kirk sound on 21st October 1939. The recorded position of her sinking is 58° 53.374’N, 02° 53.997’W although this location must be somewhat questionable as it does not look like where a blockship would be scuttled. It is possible that the scuttling went wrong and she drifted to this position before sinking to the bottom. In any case, the wreck was raised and removed in 1948.

GAMBHIRA

The steel steamship War Merlin was launched from the Pallion, Sunderland yard of Short Brothers Ltd (Yard No 402) on 4th November 1918.  She measured 399.9′ x 52.3′ x 28.4′ and her tonnage was 5257 gross tons, 3196 net tons.  She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Northern Marine Engineering Ltd delivering 517 nominal horse power. Built for the Shipping Controller in London she was immediately sold to the British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd in 1919 and was renamed Gambhira. After a successful career she was sold to the Hughes Blockow Shipbreaking Company of Blyth to be scrapped in 1939 but the Admiralty intervened  and requisitioned the vessel to be used as a blockship. She was scuttled in Kirk Sound on 5th November 1939 but later raised and removed to be sunk as a target for the Coast Artillery School off Great Orme, Wales. She was quickly destroyed and sunk. The wreckage today is reported scattered lying in depths of 16 – 19 metres in position 53° 22.882’N, 03° 59.607’W.

BUSK

The steel steamship Busk was launched from the North Shields yard of Smith Dockyard Co Ltd (Yard No 779).  She measured 144.0′ x 24.1′ x 10.4′ and her tonnage was 367 gross tons, 142 net tons.  She was powered by a compound steam engine by the Shields Engineering Co Ltd delivering 85 nominal horse power. Built for James Pattinson of Hartlepool she was sold to Mr T McLeod (Busk Steamship Co Ltd) of Sunderland in 1918. Her final owner was Mr John Campbell of Irvine in 1937 who operated her on Scottish west coast routes until she was purchased by the Admiralty in early 1940. She was scuttled in Kirk Sound on 19th February 1940. Her hull was removed in 1948 but some scattered wreckage was reported in the 1990’s in position 58° 53.325’N, 02° 53.897’W. We have no recent updates on this wreckage.

REDSTONE 

The steel steamship War Crag was launched from the West Hartlepool yard of William Gray and Co Ltd (Yard No 905) on 9th July 1918.  She measured 331.1′ x 48.8′ x 23.2′ and her tonnage was 3110 gross tons, 1875 net tons.  She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by the Central Marine Engineering Works delivering 430 nominal horse power.  Built for the Shipping Controller she was immediately sold to the Wye Shipping Co Ltd, London who renamed her Wye Crag. In 1925 she purchased by was Cia Cantabria of San Sebastian, Spain who renamed her Orbe. In 1928 she again had a new owner, Cia Naviera Amaya of Bilbao, and another new name – Margari. Finally, in 1937 she was purchased by the Phoenix Shipping Company of London who named her Redstone. In 1940 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and taken to Scapa Flow where she was scuttled as a blockship in Kirk Sound on 2nd May 1940.  The wreck was removed in 1948 and towed to Cainryan where she was broken up.

2 – SKERRY SOUND BLOCKSHIPS (BARRIER NO 2)

SKERRY SOUND BLOCKSHIPS – LOCATION CHART

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORLD WAR ONE

CLIO II

The iron steamship Clio II was launched from the Abden yard of John Key and Sons Ltd., Kinghorn on 11th February 1873.  She measured 230.3′ x 28.5′ x 16.0′ and her tonnage was 766 gross tons, 470 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by John Key delivering 133 nominal horse power.  Built for the Bristol Steam Navigation Company she entered service later that year and operated for this company for most of her career except for a brief period owned by the Gloucester Steamship Company from 1894 to 1897 before she returned to service with Bristol Steam Navigation. In 1897 the Lloyds survey changed her registered tonnage to 817 gross tons, 473 net tons. She was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship in late 1913 and sunk in Skerry Sound on 27th January 1914. However, the charges placed to sink her failed to detonate and, as the tide turned and increased in strength, she drifted east before she sank in her current position making her useless as a blockship.

The scattered wreckage of the Clio II lies in position 58° 52.705’N, 02° 53.026’W off the north east point of Burray lying on a rock and sand seabed in 7 metres.  The wreck is well broken but the compound steam engine and her single boiler were clearly visible in a 2013 survey.

ARGYLE

The iron steamship Argyle was launched from the Hull yard of Gilbert and Cooper Ltd on 4th November 1872.  She measured 241.6′ x 30.9′ x 15.8′ and her tonnage was 1185 gross tons, 767 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by Gilbert and Cooper delivering 98 registered horse power. Built for Mr W S Bailey of Hull she operated from this port for her entire career.  In 1896 her ownership was transferred to Bailey and Leetham Ltd before she was sold to her final owners T Wilson and Sons Ltd in 1903.  In April 1914 she was purchased by the Admiralty and moved to Orkney to be scuttled as a blockship.  She was scuttled in Skerry Sound on 17th September 1914 and quickly broke into two pieces when the bow section separated from the remainder of the vessel.

The remaining wreckage of Argyle lies in position 58° 52.883’N, 02° 54.043’W oriented north south with bow facing south. She lies in 2 – 4 metres scattered over the sandy seabed with the Scotch boiler breaking the surface at low tide.  The cast iron propeller is clearly visible with the propeller shaft leading north to the engine and boiler midships.

TEESWOOD  

The iron steamship Britannia was launched from the Pallion yard of Short Brothers Ltd., Sunderland  (Yard No 127) on 16th October 1882.  She measured 275.7′ x 40.4′ x 18.7′ and her tonnage was 1601 gross tons, 1018 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by J Dickinson Ltd, Sunderland delivering 191 nominal horse power. She was built for the United Kingdom Steamship Co Ltd., of Cardiff.

In 1892 she was purchased by Mr Christian Klaveness of Christiana (modern Oslo) who renamed her Westwood. She was to operate under the Norwegian flag until she returned to British ownership when she was acquired by the Constantine and Pickering Steamship Company of Middlesbrough in 1913 who renamed her Teeswood. Her career under this new name was to be a short one as she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship in early 1914. She was scuttled in Skerry Sound on 19th September 1914.

After the war she was heavily salvaged but there is still some substantial wreckage in position 58° 53.017’N, 02° 53.833’W lying on its starboard side in 1 – 8 metres. For many years this wreck was incorrectly identified as the Rosewood but the survey in 2013 revealed the wreckage of a compound steam engine confirming her identity as Teeswood. The stern section is the most defined area of the wreck with propeller, rudder shaft and steering quadrant still clearly visible.

ROSEWOOD

The steel steamship Blakemoor was launched from the South Shields yard of John Readhead and Sons Ltd on 19th December 1888.  She measured 259.0′ x 36.0′ x 17.9′ and her tonnage was 1757 gross tons, 1104 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Readhead delivering 181 nominal horse power.   She was built for W Runciman and Co Ltd of South Shields.  

In 1899 she was purchased by Mr W Constantine who registered her in 1901 as Rosewood owned by Constantine and Pickering Steamship Co Ltd in South Shields. In early 1914 she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship and scuttled in Skerry Sound on 18th October 1914. Unfortunately, the charges set to scuttle her failed to detonate and she drifted west before finally foundering out of the channel making her useless as a blockship. The wreck was heavily salvaged after the war.

The remains believed to be Rosewood lie in position 58° 53.158’N, 02° 54.414’W lying in 10 metres.  The wreckage is extensive despite the attentions of the salvors and although the larger recognisable items such as engine and boilers have been removed it is still a substantial wreck.  The bow section is the most in tact rising some 5 metres from the seabed.

ELTON

The steel steamship Elton was launched from the West Hartlepool yard of William Gray and Co Ltd on 19th November 1887.  She measured 300.0′ x 38.6′ x 22.0′ and her tonnage was 2461 gross tons, 1596 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Blair and Co Ltd., Stockton-on-Tees delivering 236 nominal horse power.

Ordered by R Ropner and Co Ltd of West Hartleppool she operated for this owner until sold to W Coupland and Co Ltd, also of West Hartlepool, in 1912. In early 1914 she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship.  She was scuttled in Skerry Sound on 3rd October 1914 and subject to substantial salvage after the end of the war.

The remaining wreckage of the Elton, in three distinct sections, lies in position 58° 52.975’N, 02° 53.867’W.  To the south east of the site the bow section stands 2 metres proud of the seabed.  The middle section of the wreck contains the remains of the engine room area although the engine itself has been removed.  The third section, which overlaps the remains of Teeswood, lies closest to the shore with only scattered broken steel plates and ribs visible.

REINFIELD

The steel steamship Ramses was launched from the Neptune Yard of  Wigham Richardson and Co Ltd, Low Walker on 27th September 1893.  She measured 340.0′ x 43.1.’ x 25.2′ and her tonnage was 3582 gross tons, 2304 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Wigham Richardson delivering 296 nominal horse power.

Built for Deutsche Dampfschiffarhts Ges ‘Kosmos’ of Hamburg she was purchased by Continentale Rhederi AG, another Hamburg business, in 1911 who renamed her Reinfield. On 18th April 1914 she stranded on the Almirante Rocks off Minorca.  She was raised and towed to Gibraltar where she was acquired by Berger Smith’s Imossi and Co Ltd on 9th July of 1914, eighteen days before the start of World War One. She was immediately sold to shipbreakers in UK and, after she was towed to the UK, she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship. She was scuttled in Skerry Sound on 2nd October 1914. The wreck of the Reinfield became the centre of a furore on Orkney when, amid protests from local fishermen and calls to remove the wrecks which were blocking the fishermen’s access to the fishing grounds east of Orkney, in March 1920 three local men were drowned when their small sailing boat lost control in the tide streams through Skerry Sound hitting the wreck of the Reinfield which caused the boat to capsize. After heated debate, including questions in the House of Commons, and much procrastination, some clearance activity started in Kirk Sound with the hulk of Aorangi raised and moved into Holm Sound but after this effort the political debate subsided and clearance activity was eventually left to commercial salvage companies in the years to follow. The Reinfield herself was later substantially salvaged.

The remaining wreckage of Reinfield lie in position 58° 52.950’N, 02° 53.933’W and primarily consist of three Scotch boilers lying in a line and a few scattered plates and other wreckage to the south west of the boilers.

ALMERIA

The steel steamship Wakefield was launched from the Deptford Yard of James Laing and Co Ltd on 18th September 1888.  She measured 293.0′ x 38.2′ x 18.3′ and her tonnage was 2418 gross tons, 1543 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by G Clark of Sunderland delivering 219 nominal horse power.

Built for Harris and Dixon, London she was registered under the company name Wakefield Steam Shipping Co Ltd in 1890. She was sold to the Woodruff Steam Shipping Co Ltd of Cardiff in 1899 before she was purchased by her final owners, R E Morel and Co Ltd, Cardiff. Renamed Almeria she sailed under the company name SS Almeria Co Ltd. In 1914 she was purchased by the Admiralty intended for use as an accommodation vessel but was ultimately used as a blockship. She was sunk in Skerry Sound on 20th February 1915.

The substantial wreckage of Almeria lies in position 58° 52.925’N, 02° 53.947’W intermingled with wreckage of Emerald Wings and Ilsenstein.  The stern section is most defined with prop shaft, propeller and full hull section visible rising 4 metres from the seabed. The engine room, with triple expansion engine, is recognisable with two Scotch boilers close by.

AC-6

The wreckage of this unpowered barge lie in position 57° 53.017’N, 02° 54.000’W and are visible above the surface at all states of the tide. It is unclear from historical records if this wreckage is part of a blockship or the remains of a floating crane employed by Cox and Danks during salvage operations between the wars. Given the lack of a mention is the records relating to blockship activity it seems likely that this is indeed part of Cox and Danks’ salvage equipment.

WORLD WAR TWO

CAPE ORTEGAL

The steel steamship Cape Ortegal was launched from the Port Glasgow yard of Russell and Co Ltd on 30th January 1911.  She measured 405.0′ x 52.2′ x 27.4′ and her tonnage was 4896 gross tons, 3136 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Rankin and Clark, Greenock delivering 480 nominal horse power. Built for the Lyle Shipping Co Ltd, Glasgow she was sold to the Heston Steamship Co Ltd of Glasgow and Cardiff in 1936 who the sold her to the Bantham Steamship Co Ltd only months later. Her final owners, Constants (South Wales) acquired the ship in 1937. Metal Industries purchased the aging ship for scrap at Rosyth in 1939 but she was immediately requisitioned as a blockship by the Admiralty.   She was scuttled in Skerry Sound on 8th September.   Apparently she rolled over and broke up in the winter of 1939 rendering her useless as a blockship. The remains of Cape Ortegal are believed to be buried beneath Churchill Barrier No2.

ILSENSTEIN

The steel steamship Matatua was launched from the Belfast yard of Workman Clark  Ltd on 15th January 1904.  She measured 447.6′ x 56.2′ x 38.8′ and her tonnage was 8216 gross tons, 5108 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Workman Clark delivering 800 registered horse power.  Built for Shaw, Savill and Albion Co Ltd of Southampton she was sold to Arnold Berstein of Hamburg in 1928 and by 1938 she was operating for the Red Star Line of that same city. She was sold to Metal Industries for scrapping in June 1939 but was subsequently requisitioned by the Admiralty to be sunk as a blockship.  She was scuttled in Skerry Sound on 18th February to replace Cape Ortegal which has broken apart during winter storms rendering her useless as a blockship.

The remains of Ilsenstein lie in position 58° 52.975’N, 02° 53.867’W with the bow section intersecting with the remains of Almeria.  She lies in 5 – 7 metres with the engine and four Scotch boilers clearly visible.  The wreckage is partly buried by sand but the bow section is mainly in tact standing some 4 or 5 metre above the seabed.

EMERALD WINGS

The steel steamship Depute Pierre Goujon was launched from the Government Yard at Cherbourg Arsenal for the French government in 1920 . She measured 269.9′ x 39.6′ x 19.6′ and her tonnage was 2139 gross tons, 1282 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion engine by Establissments Nationale d’Indret delivering 149 registered horse power. A number of French owners followed over the next fourteen years before she was sold to Pothitos E Baikas of Greece in 1934. She was renamed Nicolaos Baikas. Two years later she changed ownership once again, purchased by Wing Line Ltd of London who named her Emerald Wings. A final ownership change in 1939 when she was purchased by the Continental Transit Co Ltd of London was to be short lived as she was requisitioned by the Admiralty for use as a blockship in early 1940.

She was scuttled in Skerry Sound on 5th July 1940 and remained one of the most prominent of the blockships until after the war. She has gradually disintegrated since then but remains a substantial wreck with a section of the bow visible at low tide and her mast visible above the surface at all states of the tide.  She lies in position 58° 52.909’N, 02° 53.887’W  8 – 10 metres. The stern section is most in tact mingled with wreckage from Ilsenstein and Almeria. Midships the triple expansion engine lies on its side and two Scotch boilers are also visible.  

LYCIA

The steel motor vessel Lycia was launched from the Inch Yard of Dunlop, Bremner and Co Ltd., Port Glasgow on 10th April 1924.  She measured 300.3′ x 44.2′ x 21.0′ and her tonnage was 2338 gross tons, 1249 net tons.  She was powered by a 4SCSA 6 cylinder diesel engine by J G Kincaid and Co Ltd delivering 355 nominal horse power.  Built for T and J Brocklebank, Liverpool she was purchased by Mr J Shearer (Cape York Motorship Co Ltd, Glasgow) only eighteen months later in February 1926. Operating for the Ministry of War Shipping from Janaury 1940 she was requsitioned for use as a blockship on 20th October 1940 and sunk in Skerry Sound on 19th February 1941.

She lay very close to the shore on south side of Lamb Holm and close to what became Barrier No 2 sitting almost high and dry with her bow facing north. She was substantially salvaged after the war but her huge engine block remains at the site lying on a sandy seabed in 3 metres visible above the surface at most states of the tide in position 58° 53.050’N, 02° 53.950’W. There is a boiler amidst the wreckage probably from the World War One blockship Teeswood which was originally sunk in the approximate position.

3. WEDDELL SOUND (BARRIER NO 3)

WEDDELL SOUND BLOCKSHIPS – LOCATION CHART

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORLD WAR ONE

GARTMORE

The steel steamship Bedford was launched from the Newcastle yard of the Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co Ltd (Yard No 22) on 13th December 1879. She measured 270.0’’ x 35.0′ x 24.4′ and her tonnage was 1774 gross tons, 1122 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by North East Marine Engineering Ltd, Sunderland delivering 187 nominal horse power.

Over the following 20 years she was owned and operated by a number of companies in North Shields and Glasgow before she was acquired by J H Wackerbarth and Co Ltd of Liverpool in 1903 who renamed her Castilla. Four years later she returned to Scottish ownership when she was acquired by Whimster and Co (Gart Steamship Co Ltd) Ltd in 1907 and named Gartmore. With the outbreak of Word War One she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship and scuttled in East Weddell Sound on 14th September 1914.

She was sunk in position 58° 52.258’N, 02° 54.879’W. In the 1990’s the wreckage was reported to be visible at low water among the wreckage of the World War Two blockships Martis and Empire Seaman. The Wessex Archaeology survey of 2013 reported most of remaining wreckage buried in sand but at times one blade of propeller visible protruding from seabed. Other wreckage including rudder, hull plating and prop shaft was visible in 3 – 5 metres.

LAPLAND

The steel steamship Ptarmigan was launched from the Dundee yard of W B Thompson (Yard No 96) on 6th March 1890.  She measured 255.9′ x 32.1′ x 15.3′ and her tonnage was 1234 gross tons, 672 net tons.  She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee delivering 194 nominal horse power. Built for the Cork Steamship Co Ltd she was first registered in that port on 8th April 1890.   In 1903 she was purchased by The British and South American Steam Navigation Co Ltd (R P Houston and Co), Liverpool who renamed her Dauntless. Her final owners, the Liverpool and Hamburg Steamship (Currie, Donald and Co) Co Ltd, Liverpool bought her in 1907 and renamed her Lapland.  In 1914 she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship and she was scuttled in East Weddell Sound on 14th September 1914.

In 1926 the wreck was reported in position 58° 52.283’N, 02° 54.783’W but the construction of Barrier No 3 substantially buried the wreckage although in 1992 some portion of the wreck was still protruding from beneath the north end of the barrier.  However no trace of the wreckage was found in the Wessex Archaeology survey.

REGINALD

The iron, three masted schooner-rigged steamship Reginald was launched from the Govan yard of the London and Glasgow Shipbuilding Co Ltd (Yard No 208) on 29th June 1878.  She measured 240.2′ x 32.2′ x 15.7′ and her tonnage was 859 gross tons, 516 net tons.  She was powered by a compound steam engine by her builders delivering 200 nominal horse power. Built for the Waterford Steamship Company Ltd she was first registered in that port on 19th July 1878.  In 1894 she was re-engined by D Rollo and Sons who installed a more up to date and efficient compound steam engine.  On 24th June 1912 she was purchased by the Clyde Shipping Co Ltd.  By this date her tonnage was surveyed at 930 gross tons, 436 net tons.  Her career for this final owner was to be curtailed when she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship in 1914.  She was scuttled in East Weddell Sound on 14th September 1914.

The wreck of the Reginald was partially salvaged but substantial wreckage still remains in position 58° 52.240’N, 02° 54.673’W.  The wreckage, which is broken in two sections, provides one of the iconic views of the Orkney blockships with her stern section visible at all states of the tide close to the road across the barrier.  The bow section lies to NE of visible stern section.

WORLD WAR TWO

MARTIS

The iron steamship William Balls was launched from the South Shields yard of J Redhead and Sons (Yard No 296) on 21st April 1894. Built for W Balls and Sons Ltd, North Shields she measured 300.3′ x 41.5′ x 18.1′ and her tonnage was 2482 gross tons, 1552 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Redhead delivering 243 nominal horse power. In 1929 she was briefly owned by the Tramp Shipping Development Co Ltd, London before being acquired later that year by her final owners, the Martis Steamship Co Ltd, London who named her Martis. In 1914 she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship and she was scuttled in East Weddell Sound on 14th June 1940.

The engines and boilers were removed after the war but the substantial wreckage of the Martis lies in position 58° 52.283’N, 02° 54.918’W. She is visible above surface at all states of tide. The wreck, which is 65 metres long oriented NW/SE (stern SE), lies in 7 metres.

EMPIRE SEAMAN

The steel steamship Morea was launched from the Lubeck yard of Schiffs-U Dockhauw Flender (Yard No 62) on 6th October 1922. She measured 289.0′ x 41.7′ x 17.5′ and her tonnage was 1927 gross tons, 1090 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Neptun Werf AG, Rostock delivering 191 nominal horse power.

Built for Deutsche Levante Linie, Hamburg she was confiscated by the Admiralty in 1940 after she was seized by the Royal Navy. She was renamed Empire Seaman but almost immediately she sent to Scapa Flow to be used as a blockship and was scuttled in East Weddell Sound on 30th June 1940.

Some partial salvage followed after the war when the superstructure, bow and stern were removed but some substantial wreckage still remains in position 58° 52.259’N, 02° 54.962’W lying in 6 metres with some of the wreckage visible above the surface, particularly at low tide.

4. WATER SOUND (BARRIER NO 4)

WATER SOUND BLOCKSHIPS – LOCATION CHART

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORLD WAR ONE

CLIO

The steel steam ship Clio was launched from the Hartlepool yard of William Gray and Co Ltd (Yard No 354)     on 19th February 1889.  She measured 295.8′ x 39.0′ x 21.1′ and her tonnage was 2733 gross tons, 1778 net tons.  She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by the Central Marine Engineering Works delivering 240 nominal horse power.  

Ordered by Thomas Wilson for service on the Wilson Line of Hull she operated fro this company until she was requisitioned by the Admiralty in early 1914 and scuttled as a blockship in Water Sound in April that year as Britain prepared for the impending war with Germany.

The wreck was heavily salvaged at some point and we have no recent reports of the status of the wreckage which remains in position 58° 50.408’N, 02° 54.100’W.  In 1992 it was described  as situated in middle of the sound with boilers and engine exposed even at high tide.

PONTOS

The steel steamship Clan McNab was launched from the Linthouse yard of Alexander Stephen and Son (Yard No 333) on 9th June 1891.  She measured 302.3′ x 39.0′ x 23.3′ and her tonnage was 2268 gross tons, 1473 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by her builders delivering 300 nominal horse power.

Built for the Clan Line Steamers (Cayzer Irvine and Co Ltd), London she was sold in 1903 Furness Withy and Co Ltd who named her St John City. Six years later she changed ownership once more this time purchased by the Anglo Hellenic Steamship Company of Andros, Greece who named her Pontos. In 1914 she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship. She was scuttled in Water Sound on 30th November 1914.

After the war she was heavily salvaged but reports indicate that some wreckage still exists. However the position of the wreckage is in doubt reported at 58° 50.402’N, 02° 54.083’W but contemporary photographs appear to place her close to north end of barrier in approximate position 58° 50.541’N, 02° 54.165’W.

LORNE

The iron steamship Lorne was launched from the Hull yard of Gilbert and Cooper (Yard No 15) on 29th May 1873.  She measured 241.7′ x 30.9′ x 15.8′ and her tonnage was 1186 gross tons, 733 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by Gilbert and Cooper delivering 96 nominal horse power. Built for Messrs Bailey and Leetham of Hull she was first registered in that port on 25th October 1873. She was acquired by Thomas Wilson of Hull in July 1903 and continued to operate for the Wilson Line Ltd until she was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship in October 1914. She was scuttled in Water Sound on 17th September 1915. After the war she was heavily salvaged with her engines and fittings removed. In 1931 she was dispersed using explosives to reduce the danger to vessels passing through the sound.

We have no recent reports of the status of the remaining wreckage which lies in position 58° 50.500’N, 02° 54.067’W. In a survey in 1992 the centre section of the hull was reported lying close to the remains of the Clio.

WORLD WAR TWO

JUNIATA

The steel motor vessel Sprucol was launched from the Pallion, Sunderland yard of Short Brothers Ltd (Yard No 411) on 4th July 1917.  She measured 219.0′ x 34.8′ x 16.6′ and her tonnage was 1139 gross tons, 478 net tons. She was powered by two 4 cylinder 2SCSA diesel engines by J and GC Bolinders and Co Ltd delivering 183 nominal horse power. Built as a fleet auxiliary oiler for the Royal Navy she was completed and entered service early in 1918.

On 10th July 1918 she was torpedoed in her starboard flank and badly damaged by UB-110 (Kapitanleutnant Werner Furbinger) but thankfully she survived and was able to limp into the Humber estuary to be repaired at Earle’s Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd in Hull emerging to return to service four months later.  At the end of the war many of these fleet auxiliaries were sold on for commercial service. Sprucol was sold to the Anglo American Oil Company who renamed her Juniata.

Juniata was purchased by the Admiralty to be sunk as a blockship in early 1939 and scuttled in Water Sound on 2nd March 1939. In 1949 she was raised and towed to Inganess Bay to be scrapped. The wreck was partially salvaged but a large section of her bow remains in situ in position 58° 57.828’N, 02° 54.780’W and is visible above surface at all states of tide. Some portion of stern section may lie close by.

CARRON

The steel steamship Stirling was launched from the Dundee yard of W B Thompson (Yard No 122) on 6th January 1894 and immediately renamed Glasgow.  She measured 240.0′ x 32.0′ x 16.1′ and her tonnage was 1017 gross tons, 426 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Thompson delivering 228 nominal horse power. Built for J Rankine and Son Ltd, Glasgow she was sold to George Gibson and Co Ltd, Leith in 1920. By 1922 her ownership had changed again, this time to the Carron Company Ltd of Grangemouth, who changed her name to Carron. In 1940 she was purchased by the Admiralty and scuttled in Water Sound on 3rd March 1940. She lay in position 58° 50.555’N, 02° 54.034’W but was almost completely buried when the barrier was constructed. In 1992 there were reports of some portions of the wreck visible buried in the sand at the north east end of the barrier.

GONDOLIER 

The iron paddlesteamer Gondolier was launched from the Cessnock Bank yard of J and G Thomson on 3rd May 1866.  She measured 148.2′ x 20.2′ x 7.8′ and her tonnage was 169 gross tons, 80 net tons.  She was powered by a 2 cylinder oscillating steam engine by Thomson delivering 80 nominal horse power driving her large twin paddle wheels. Built for the David Hutchison and David MacBrayne steamship company she was destined for the Caledonian Canal service. She served very successfully on this route for over sixty years undergoing various boiler refits and upgrades throughout her life. By the outbreak of World War Two the company had emerged as David MacBrayne Ltd of Glasgow and her tonnage had grown to 250 gross tons, 141 net tons. In 1940 her engines, boilers and her superstructure were removed and the hulk was sold to the Admiralty to be used as a blockship. She was scuttled in Water Sound on 21st March 1940 but during the process she rolled over then drifted finally sinking in position 58° 50.333’N, 02° 53.950’W making her ineffectual as a blockship. Some additional salvage was carried out after the end of the war. We believe the hull of the Gondolier is still in place at this position.

COLLINGDOC

The steel steamship D B Hanna was launched from the Haverton Hill yard of Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd (Yard No 91) on 10th July 1925.  She measured 252.5′ x 43.2′ x 17.8′ and her tonnage was 1780 gross tons, 1285 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Earle’s and Co Ltd delivering 111 nominal horse power.

Ordered by the Toronto Insurance and Vessel Agency Ltd of Middlesbrough she operated for this company until 1928 when she was sold to the Union Transit Company of Middlesbrough. In 1939 she was purchased by Paterson’s Steamship Company of Fort William, Ontario, intended for service in the Great Lakes and renamed Collingdoc. However, the outbreak of World War Two meant that she remained in the UK and so, on 13th July 1941, she was en route from London to the Tyne when she collided with a mine off Southend pier. Two of her crew were killed in the incident. The wreck was refloated and taken to Rosyth to be scrapped. However the Admiralty intervened and requisitioned her for use as a blockship. She was scuttled in Water Sound on 28th March 1940.

The wreckage of the Collingdoc lies in position 58° 50.385’N, 02° 54.139’W and is now ashore substantially buried in sand and visible at all states of the tide.

CAROLINA THORDEN  

The steel motor vessel Carolina Thorden was launched from the Abo, Finland yard of Crichton-Vulcan AB (Yard no 746) on 16th October 1937.   She measured 365.8′ x 51.4′ x 21.6′ and her tonnage was 3645 gross tons, 1868 net tons.  She was powered a 7 cylinder 2SCSA diesel engine by Friedrich Krupp Germaniaweft AG, Kiel delivering 945 nominal horse power.  Ordered by the Thorden Line A/B Uddevalla, Sweden her career was to be a short one. On 21st December 1940 she arrived in New York riddled with bullet holes from a German aircraft that had attacked her near Kattegat. A lucky escape, but her luck ran out only a few months later when, on 26th March 1941, she was en route from Liinakhamari to the United States with a cargo of paper pulp when she was attacked by two German bombers off the Faroes. One passenger was killed in the attack and the vessel drifted ashore, on fire, near Torshavn.

The wreck was later raised, partially repaired and towed to Scapa Flow where she was sunk as a blockship on 8th April 1942 in Water Sound. Despite substantial salvage after the war a large section of her hull is reported in position 58° 50.408’N, 02° 54.097’W.

5 – BURRA SOUND

 BURRA SOUND BLOCKSHIPS – LOCATION CHART

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORLD WAR ONE

DYLE

The iron steamship Widdrington was launched from the North Shields yard of Andrew Leslie and Co Ltd (Yard No 209) on 28th November 1879. She measured 260.0′ x 33.2′ x 23.0′ and her tonnage was 1581 gross tons, 1154 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by Black, Hawthorn and Co Ltd, Gateshead delivering 177 nominal horse power. Ordered by Mr William Johnson of North Shields she was sold to Turner, Brightman and Co Ltd, also of North Shields, in 1885. In 1902 she was sold to the Belgian company, Societe Anon de Belge de Navigation a Vapeur Schaldis who renamed her Dyle. By June 1914 she was destined for the shipbreakers but the Admiralty intervened and acquired her to be sunk as a blockship at Scapa. She was scuttled in Burra Sound on 7th October 1914. An attempt to disperse the wreck with explosives was made in 1962 but it is reported that substantial portions of wreckage still remain.

The wreck, which measures 80 x 15 x 9 metres lies in position 58° 55.517’N, 03° 18.783’W oriented 278/98 degrees. The hull, in 12 – 15 metres of water, is substantially in tact listing to port and encrusted with colourful sea life. The stern is the most in tact portion of the wreck with propeller and rudder post still in place.

GOBERNADOR BORIES

The iron steamship Wordsworth was launched from the West Hartlepool yard of William Gray and Co Ltd (Yard No 262) on 14th October 1882. She measured 285.5′ x 36.0′ x 24.2′ and her tonnage was 2332 gross tons, 1816 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by T Richardson and Sons Ltd delivering 224 nominal horse power. Built for Glover Brothers of London (Shakespeare Shipping Co Ltd) she was purchased in 1906 by Societe Ballenera Magallanes of Punta Arenas, Chile who renamed her Gobernador Bories. She was purchased by the Admiralty for use as a blockship in 1914 and scuttled in Burra Sound on 12th October 1914. However, she floated down current during the scuttling process and sank in deep water rendering her useless as a blockship.

The wreck of the Gobernador Bories, the most southerly of the Burra Sound blockship wrecks, lies in position 58° 55.401’N, 03° 18.675’W. She lies in 12 – 14 metres oriented 260/80 degrees. The hull is generally in tact although, curiously, the bow lists to port and the stern lists to starboard. Many of the hull plates have fallen to the seabed revealing the ribs of the ship. Her boiler and remains of the engine are visible midships. The rudder and propeller are in place at the stern.

We’d like to thank Naomi Watson for her permissions to use her excellent underwater photographs in this article.

URMSTON GRANGE
The steel steamship Urmston Grange was launched from the Belfast yard of Workman Clark and Co Ltd (Yard No 113) on 2nd October 1894. She measured 340.0′ x 46.5′ x 17.6′ and her tonnage was 3423 gross tons, 2213 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Workman Clark delivering 327 nominal horse power.

Built for the Urmston Grange Steamship Co Ltd her ownership was transferred to the Houlder Line Ltd in 1900. After years of service as a cargo vessel she was fitted out as a whaling ship and operated in the waters around the Falkland Islands. On the 24th August 1914 she stranded at Rio Gallegos, Argentina. She was successfully refloated and towed back to the UK but she was condemned as a constructive total loss and destined for the shipbreakers. The Admiralty purchased the hulk for use as a blockship. She was scuttled in Burra Sound on 22nd September 1914. In 1915 the wreck was described as a three island cargo ship settling towards the bow with forecastle awash and complete. Her masts and funnel were erect. However, over time with the effects of wind, tide and current through the sound and some salvage activity, she gradually broke apart and finally, in 1962 the wreck dispersed with explosives. She was originally charted at 58° 55.641’N, 03° 18.893’W but disappeared from the charts in 1975.

Recent archaeological research has revealed scattered wreckage and the outline of a ship in approximate position 58° 55.613’N, 03° 18.901’W which is believed to be the remains of the Urmston Grange. The wreck which is lying basically on its keel lies in 5-10 metres oriented 214/34 degrees. The most recognisable feature are the three large boilers. This distinctive feature allowed the researchers to positively identify the wreck.

ROTHERFIELD

The steel steamship Rotherfield was launched from the Middleton, West Hartlepool yard of Edward Withy and Co Ltd (Yard No 165) on 25th September 1889. She measured 320.0′ x 40.0′ x 21.6′ and her tonnage was 2831 gross tons, 1843 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Thomas Richardson and Sons delivering 270 nominal horse power.

She was built for the Rotherfield Steamship Co Ltd (F Woods) London. In 1904 this company merged into the Woodfield Steamship Co Ltd who continued to operate the vessel until she was requisitioned by the Admiralty for use as a blockship in 1914. She was scuttled in Burra Sound in 23rd September 1914. In 1940 she was described as “down by the bow with propeller exposed almost parallel to shore”. A number of the wrecks in this area were dispersed in 1962 and, by 1975 Rotherfield had disappeared from charts.

A survey in 2010 at the position charted in earlier maps failed to find any trace but a survey by Wessex Archaeological survey 2012 found wreckage with outline of ship in position 58° 55.618’N, 03° 18.595’W which coincides with the position of the wreck in photographs. This is therefore believed to be the remains of the Rotherfield. The wreckage, which is substantially broken consisting of mainly metal plates and spars, is oriented 293/113 degrees in depths of 7 – 9 metres.

RONDA

The steel steamship Rydal Home was launched from the North Dock yard of J Blumer, Sunderland (Yard No 97) on 13th August 1889. She measured 274.0′ x 36.6′ x 19.0′ and her tonnage was 1941 gross tons, 1226 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Amos and Smith delivering 196 nominal horse power. Built for Hine Brothers of Maryport in 1900 she was sold to T B Sambridge also of Maryport and her ownership was registered to the Rydal Home Steamship Co Ltd. In 1902 she was sold again, this time to Bailey and Leetham Ltd of Hull who named her Ronda. Only a year later this company was taken over by T Wilson and Sons Ltd (Wilson Line Ltd) of Hull who operated her until the outbreak of Word War One. In 1914 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty for use as a blockship. She was scuttled in Burra Sound on 20th august 1915. By 1940 the wreck was described as visible with masts and funnel protruding above the surface, like a number of other blockships in the area she was in 1962. 

The Wessex Archaeology survey in 2012 reported scattered wreckage in position 58° 55.633’N, 03° 18.821’W believed to be part of Ronda. The wreckage, the most northerly of the Burra Sound blockships, lies in 7 – 11 metres and appears to be broken in three sections. The remains of the hull are basically upright oriented 309/129 degrees with bow facing generally south east. The two boilers are visible midships.

BUDRIE

The steel steamship Golconda was launched from the Pointhouse yard of A and J Inglis, Glasgow (Yard No 174) on 15th November 1882. She measured 284.9′ x 36.0′ x 23.6′ and her tonnage was 2252 gross tons, 1357 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by Inglis delivering 200 nominal horse power. Built for the British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd she operated for this company for a brief period before being purchased by the Royal Indian Marine for service as a troopship. She was renamed Canning. In 1907 she was sold to Goolamally Jeewanjee and Co of Bombay (Mumbai) who named her Budrie. Sold again in 1912, this time to Arab Steamers Ltd, she was finally requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1915 to be sunk as a blockship in Scapa Flow. She was scuttled in Burra Sound on 3rd October 1915.

The flattened wreckage of the Budrie lies in position 58° 55.615’N, 03° 18.694’W and is substantially buried under the wreck of the later Word War Two blockship Inverlane.

WORLD WAR TWO

INVERLANE

The Inverlane was one of seven motor tankers built for the Inver Tankers shipping line in Germany in the late 1930s. It was intended that the tankers would supply a refinery near Dublin but the refinery was never built. Ironically all seven tankers were later sunk by mines or torpedoes from ships or submarines of the nation where the tankers were built. Launched from the yard of Bremer Vulcan, Vegesack (Yard No 750) on 28th June 1938 the steel motor tanker measured 480.2′ x 63.8′ x 35.7′ and her tonnage was 9141 gross tons, 5494 net tons. She was powered by an 8 cylinder diesel engine by Bremer Vulcan delivering 1001 nominal horse power.

She was lost in the early days of the war when she struck a mine off Tynemouth on 14th December, 1939. Three of the crew of forty were killed in the initial explosion which also badly damaged the ship. The surviving crew safely abandoned ship and left the sinking vessel to the mercy of the sea. In fact, she drifted for thirty six hours covering 26 miles before she was finally to come ashore near Sunderland in Seaburn Bay. The ship was doomed as she broke her back as she came ashore but soon after a decision was taken to refloat part of her to be towed to Scapa Flow as a blockship. The wreck was cut into two pieces, the forepart being removed and taken to South Shields for repair and the stern section was left where she lay.

After the fore section was patched up at Hughes Blacklaw Shipbreaking Yard during July 1940 it was towed north to Scapa Flow. The journey up the east coast of Britain was a difficult one as the huge awkward part of the ship was very difficult to control under tow. Two times on the voyage north the tow line snapped and had to be reconnected. In fact, the civilian crew of the tow ship eventually gave up and had to be replaced by naval personnel to complete the task. The Inverlane arrived in Scapa Flow on Christmas Day 1940 where she was initially designated for fire fighting practice before she was eventually sunk as a blockship in Burra Sound on 30th May 1944.

The wreck of the Inverlane lies in Burra Sound in position 58° 55.565’N, 03° 18.783’W. Until around 2000 the bow of the ship was very visible at all states of the tide in the middle of the sound and could even be boarded with care. However the fierce tides that rip through the sound at speeds up to 5 knots eventually caused the wreckage to fall over to starboard and it now only protrudes a few metres from the surface at high tide.

The wreck still makes a very interesting dive although the short window of slack water is essential to explore the ship safely. The same fierce tides that have caused the wreck to disintegrate make the ship a very friendly place for encrusting sealife so the wreckage underwater is covered in brightly coloured anemonae and sponges.

TABARKA

The steel steamship Pollux was launched from the Rotterdam yard of Rijkee NV (Yard No 132) in 1909. She measured 327.5′ x 44.2′ x 18.6′ and her tonnage was 2624 gross tons, 18.6 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Werkspoor NV, Rotterdam delivering 202 nominal horse power. Built for Koninklijke Nederlande Stoomboot Mattsschappi, Amserdam she operated for this company until 1931 then she was sold to the Societe Anonyme de Gerance et d’Armament of France and renamed Tabarka. The circumstances surrounding her acquisition by the Admiralty are confused in the records with some sources indicating she was seized at Falmouth and others reporting that she was purchased from the French Government. Either way, she steamed to Scapa Flow and was scuttled in Kirk Sound on 23rd March 1941. On completion of Barrier No 1 she was raised and moved to Burra Sound where she was scuttled again on 27th July 1944.

The large wreck of the Tabarka lies in position 58° 55.581’N, 03° 18.886’W. She lies upside down, broken in two large pieces in 10 – 13 metres. The wreck is fairly featureless as the bottom of the hull is mainly in view. The hull plates have fallen from her side revealing the hull beams and allowing light to flow into the interior of the wreck making a dive here very picturesque.

We’d like to thank Peter Swampmeister for his permission to use his excellent underwater photographs of the wreck for this article.

We would also like to thank W. Sloan Smith for allowing us to reproduce pictures from his photographic collection which records the work of the ship breaking company – W.H. Arnott Young & Company Ltd., of Dalmuir and Troon.