The depth of this steamship varies according to sources (if you have updates please e-mail them to us). The seabed is made out of shifting gravel and parts of the wreck stand 7 metres high. As part of the NRDA process, separate from the EPA cleanup process, NOAA and its co-trustees are conducting an injury assessment at the site. 40-60m RANGE: Salsette, Buccaneer, Merchant Royal, Warrior 2. Its shore-based activities continued, moving from temporary accommodation in Weymouth to accommodation in East Weare, just south of the Dockyard. This is a British cargo ship of 5000 tons lying South of Portland. [36], Having suffered bomb damage, the ARDU had transferred out to Fairlie for the duration of the war. WebFate: Sunk 04 November 1914 as a blockship for southern entrance to Portland Harbour, designed to stop U-boats entering or firing torpedoes into Channel Fleet anchorage. This 3000 ton Spanish steamship dragged her anchor in a Force 9 gale in December 1900 and was grounded on the rocks close to the Breakwater where she slipped and eventually sank. Aside from the training of Royal Navy ships, many ships of NATO countries also trained and frequented at the harbour. FOST was relocated to Devonport. Given the depth and limited tidal range, the predominant habitat within the Harbour is one that is truly marine. As an Admirality armed trawler the Arfon sank in 1917 when she hit a mine. WebPortland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England. Portland Harbour Wrecks For a great review and drawing of the Landing Craft and Bombardon Unit, dont miss the article in the January 2014 issue of Diver magazine by John Liddiard and Max Ellis. The repairs began after she paid off on 5 December 1902 and she transferred to Devonport for a refit upon their completion. The wreck's hull structure remains largely in tact and makes her one of Visible Anyone can find this group. Shipwrecks - Geoff Kirby Shonas Wrecks A major problem with the four of these guns mounted on the upper deck was that they were mounted low in the ship and were unusable at high speed or in heavy weather. [27], In 1862 HMS Britannia was moored at Portland to serve as a training ship for naval cadets. Low freeboard had been popular for around ten years since it required less armour and made a smaller target for gunfire to hit, although it had the disadvantage that it reduced seaworthiness. At the Breakwater Fort is a World War II 29 millimetre spigot mortar emplacement,[62] a pillbox,[63] and a battery observation post. This site offers some of the most enchanting sea life scenes in the area and is the spot where authors of this site first witnessed the Dance of the Cuttlefish, an amazing scene involving a dozen cuttlefish swaying in one place replicating the colours of each other. This pre-World War MTB destroyer sank while being towed back to Portland after being used as a target for battleship practice and taking two direct hits on her guns. These wrecks are accessible? [10] The breakwaters were declared complete by HRH Edward the Prince of Wales on 10 August 1872. During World War II a number of anti-invasion structures were placed at Balaclava Bay, including an anti boat landing obstacle,[81] and a minefield. This had the effect of making her roll period shorter by around 7% compared to her sisters, which in turn made her gunnery less accurate. Portland Harbour Despite her 1914 scuttling, the Royal Navy included Hood on its sale list in both 1916 and 1917. This is an East Inidiaman that struck the Shambles bank and sunk in front of Weymouth in 1805 with a large loss of life. Located as it is inside the breakwater, the wreck is well-protected from wind and waves. The Portland Harbour Revision Order 2010 provides for the creation of new berths and hardstand areas at the port in order to allow increased commercial activities over the next 50 years. Shonas Wrecks A small Admirality trawler only 123 long that went aground on Blacknor Point in March 1920 in thick fog, slid off and sank there. A purpose-built pier projecting into the harbour from the factory was used for torpedo testing and practice firing. The M2 is a one-of-a-kind submarine aircraft carrier which sank off Portland in 1932 during routine exercises (see panel). Especially in good sea conditions a dive on the deeper edge of the shambles can be very rewarding for divers with varying interests. [5], Because the stability of a ship is largely due to freeboard at high rolling angles, she was given a larger metacentric height (the vertical distance between the metacenter and the centre of gravity below it) of around 4.1 feet (1.2m) instead of the 3.6 feet (1.1m) of the rest of the Royal Sovereigns to make her roll less in rough seas. It is believed there have been at least 1,000 shipwrecks along the Dorset coast over the centuries. Black Hawk (Bow). [85], As part of the defence for HMS Osprey, now demolished, a "Yarnold Sanger" pillbox is located on Incline Road, constructed during the Cold War. Dutch steamship of 6800 tons mined and sunk in 1939 just East of the adamant shoal, approximately 500 long. Portland Harbour is home to several sites for wreck-dives, and STUART PHILPOTT never tires of exploring one of the most popular. FREE FRENCH SUBMARINE (MINERVA) ASHORE AT PORTLAND IN 1945 WHEN IT BROKE ITS TOW LINE. The second of only two Victoria Crosses awarded for action in the United Kingdom was posthumously bestowed on Jack Foreman Mantle, who died at his post on the ship. WebThis is a documentation and monitoring programme to survey underwater sites around Weymouth and Portland, including the wrecks of Portland Harbo Private Only members can see who's in the group and what they post. Better still, the premises boasts a number of additional facilities from rinsing showers to drying rooms, toilets and excellent cafe, even on-site accommodation if you want to stay local. Dive Sites - Underwater Explorers The wreck, carrying a general government cargo, sits upright on the bottom. Portland Harbour was built by the Admiralty as a facility for the Royal Navy (though access was also available to merchant ships);[3] on 11 December 1923 it was formally designated HM Naval Base (HMNB) Portland,[4] and continued to serve as such until closure in 1995. [26], The development of both the torpedo and the submarine led to Portland Harbour becoming a centre for research into underwater warfare, beginning with the establishment of Robert Whitehead's Torpedo Works at Wyke Regis in 1891. MORE PICTURES AND DETAILS OF PORTLAND SHIPWRECKS CAN BE FOUND HERE. This is one of Portlands most exciting and rewarding drift dives on a sea bed of black shells. Hood, the last of the eight Royal Sovereign-class battleships to be built, differed significantly from the other ships of her class in that she had a forward freeboard of only 11feet 3inches (3.43m) compared to 19feet 6inches (5.94m) of the other ships. Topedoed by a German sub in December 1944, towed into Worbarrow and beached. WRECK ON CHESIL BEACH (DOROTHEA) FEBRUARY 14TH 1914. [74] The same site featured a World War I torpedo station. In the 20th century, Portland became increasingly renowned for its training and research facilities. WebPortland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England. Shipwrecks - portlandharbormuseum.org Despite her 1914 scuttling, the Royal Navy included Hood on its sale list in both 1916 and 1917. At the bow it dipped down to reinforce the ship's ram.[13]. Her wreck became known as "Old Hole in the Wall". WebPortland Harbour offers half a dozen of wreck sites, one of the most popular and intact of these is the Countess Of Erne ~ one of the most popular Portland Harbour wreck sites, Depth Max 16m. [11] Part of the Falklands War task force sailed from Portland in 1982. [37] The AUWE later became infamous for espionage infiltration, known as the Portland Spy Ring.[38]. SMB Required. The stern is complete and amidship there is an engine and boiler. Ideal for diving all season. This was seen as a vindication of the barbette/high-freeboard design in the rest of her class, and all subsequent British battleship classes had high freeboard. [24] Before being installed on the battlecruiser, the bell was inscribed around the base with the words: "This bell was preserved from HMS Hood battleship 18911914 by the late rear admiral, The Honourable Sir Horace Hood KCB, DSO, MVO killed at Jutland on 31st May 1916. WebStrong ebb currents pushing against the opposing forces of the ocean can build enormous swells in a very short time, threatening to overcome unprepared ships crossing the river bars. a detailed report on this accident can be read by clicking here. The combined closure of all Portland-based establishments was believed to have cost the area 4,500 jobs, along with a loss of 40 million in the area's economy, according to a study carried out for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council in 1995. WebA significant number of UB-40s sinkings were in Dorset waters, including the LH Carl, sunk on the same day. This naval trawler was mined in October 1940 and lies in 60 metres. [53] One of the most dominant of the defence structures is the Portland Breakwater Fort, located on one of the outer breakwaters. Today, Salsette lies on her port side in 45m with her starboard rail around 32m. [45], The Harbour was sold off by the Royal Navy in 1996 allowing it to be used as both a centre for water sports and as a service facility for Channel shipping. Seven months later, on 12 December 1900, Hood recommissioned to relieve the elderly ironclad Thunderer as port guard ship at Pembroke Dock. At times this area is used to conduct training deep dives that require a depth deeper than 18 metres. On descending, follow the wall down until you reach the gravel and sandy bottom at about 18 metres. There is some sea life amid the large rocks. Portland to Lyme Bay and further out in the English Channel. Shipwrecks - Geoff Kirby [49] The outer breakwater is also Grade II Listed. MARBELLA TO ROTTERDAM. S.S. SANDAL ON FIRE PORTLAND HARBOUR 1907. The four identified areas for development are:[citation needed]. Five shipwrecks that haunt Dorset's underwater graveyard The top is in 36 metres of water. 25-32m RANGE: M2 submarine, Aeolian Sky, Binnedijk, Alex Van Opstel, St. Dunstan. A British steamship of 4200 tons she was requisitioned by the government during WWI and was torpedoed and sunk on April 15, 1918 en route from London to Newfoundland with a loss of fifty lives. bournemouth. Pictures: The shipwrecks of Portland and Chesil ONLY THE THREE MASTS WERE SAVED. Ideal for diving all season. HISTORY. DUTCH STEAMSHIP GT2035 . AN ACCOUNT OF THIS WRECK CAN BE READ BY CLICKING HERE. Designed by engineer James Meadows Rendel, the work carried out under civil engineer John Towlerton Leather, with Rendel as engineer in chief (until his death in 1856), and John Coode as resident engineer. In 1924, Portland's Anti-Submarine School (having been consolidated with similar units from HMS Vernon and HM Signal School, Portsmouth) was commissioned as HMS Osprey, becoming an independent shore command. She went first to Malta for temporary repairs, then on to England for permanent repairs at Chatham Dockyard, using her twin screws to steer for the entire voyage. Some 250,000 tonnes of Portland Stone was used in creating the 875m breakwater and associated reclaimed land. She lies on a sand and broken shell sea bed. [2] It consists of four breakwaters two southern and two northern. Can be very prolific sea life. If you follow this pipe along the top until the end, it will give a maximum depth of approximately 12 metres from where you can take a compass bearing of 350 degrees for a short distance, a new compass bearing of 90 degrees which will lead divers to a large kelp bed, over rocks and back to shore. [30] Its facilities included laboratories and workshops, a large water tank for conducting experiments and an inshore testing site for trials of ASDIC on the inner breakwater (by the late 1930s over 200 civilians were employed in Osprey's ASDIC Research and Development Unit (ARDU)). She took part in combined exercises of the Channel Fleet, Mediterranean Fleet, and Home Fleet off the coast of Portugal from 5 to 9 August 1903. SHE WAS DEMOLISHED WITH EXPLOSIVES IN 1904. [17], As part of further defence works against the threat of torpedo attack, construction of the harbour's two northern breakwaters was carried out between 1893-1906. The exhibit explores efforts to prevent disaster through the development of lighthouses and other aids to navigation. She measures 182 by 19 and was subnk with depth charges dropped off the yacht Lorna. Name last changed on November Having defied an 11-month salvage attempt after its sinking, this undamaged and unique wreck has become a popular dive site in the waters of Lyme Bay. WebThis is a documentation and monitoring programme to survey underwater sites around Weymouth and Portland, including the wrecks of Portland Harbo Private Only members can see who's in the group and what they post. Boats shuttle out and in for harbour dives allowing you to rest, de-gas and fill up in between dives. [77] At the C Pier Head Battery a World War II petroleum warfare site was constructed. Pictures: The shipwrecks of Portland and Chesil Frequent visitor John Liddiard reveals his route. Royal Sovereign-class battleship of the Royal Navy scuttled in Portland Harbour, Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1902, Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in November 1914, Modern naval gun turrets are essentially a barbette enclosed by a rotating gunhouse, a very different concept from the older style of turret that, The completely enclosed armoured shields around the turrets were known as barbettes for some years after their introduction, but they werent barbettes as we know them today, "Conserved HMS Hood Bell Rings Out 75th Anniversary of Largest Ever Royal Navy Loss", List of pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy, Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, Bullhead Point Historical and Archeological District, Maritime Heritage Trail Battle of Saipan, List of shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001905545/, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Hood_(1891)&oldid=1148381342, Victorian-era battleships of the United Kingdom, World War I shipwrecks in the English Channel, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 April 2023, at 20:57. Portland Harbour Wrecks MADELAINE (MAGDALENE) TRISTAN BEACHED AT CHESIL COVE SEPTEMBER 1930 FRENCH SCHOONER OF LORIENT. Her highest point is at 47 metres and she is reported to be lying upside down against a high reef. From scenic shore dives to passenger liners and U-Boatslying on the seabed theres a dive for every level of experience. Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy which hosted sailing events in the 2012 Olympic Games, is located on the south-western shore of the harbour. Shipwrecks in Oregon Construction of the harbour began in 1849; when completed in 1872, its 520-hectare (1,300-acre) surface area made it the largest man-made harbour in the world, and remains one of the largest in the world today. CARGO GRAIN. Dive time for this area is 4 hours after HW and the dive window is about 45 minutes. Offshore wrecks Features include an easily [40] In 1984, two large accommodation blocks, totalling 25-30 million, were built in Castletown as barracks for Royal Navy personnel, along with a sports centre. This 1300 ton armed merchant steamship was torpedoed by a German U boat and sank in 1918 while carrying railway lines. Formerly the Marie this iron wreck ship was sunk by a German submarine in May 1917. Name last changed on November If you want to shore dive instead, check out our guide to Chesil Cove. If youre looking for local, recreational diving, whether it be wrecks, reefs or drift, check out the. [84] A number of pillboxes were built around East Weare Battery. WHEN THE CAPTAIN DROVE ASHORE IN CHESIL COVE ON SEPT. 20TH 1930. The sea bed, heavily silted, is littered with bottles, cups and plates with other oddities. In the past this wreck was called both the HMS Hazard and the HMS Bittern. WebA significant number of UB-40s sinkings were in Dorset waters, including the LH Carl, sunk on the same day. As planned, Portland's Royal Dockyard closed in 1959, but the Naval Base remained open 'in support of the local establishments and H.M. ships using the harbour'. The Verne Citadel, designed by Captain Crosman R.E., was built at Verne Hill between 1860-81: the 56 acre fortress was designed for 1000 troops and had gun emplacements facing seawards on three sides. [70], On the North Eastern Breakwater, within the centre area, is a World War II coastal battery with coast artillery searchlights. For the port in Maine, see, Creation of harbour of refuge (18441872), Post-war role and closure of naval base (1946-1995), Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment, Portland Naval Communication Headquarters, Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment (AUWE), Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, "Sandsfoot Castle, Weymouth and Portland (1020062)", "The Jurassic Coast - Portland and Weymouth", "Historic England Grade II listing: Dockyard Offices", "Isle of Portland Quarries - Geology by Ian West", "Details from listed building database (1021435)", "East Weare rifle range, Portland (1428958)", "Portland historian Stuart Morris on the importance of the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse", "Historic England Grade II listing: Inner and outer breakwater", "Digitally Copied Navy Lists available on line", "Danger UXB Portland's World War 2 UneXploded Bomb | Dorset Life - The Dorset Magazine", "WW2 People's War - H.M.S. Portland SMB Required. January 2014 issue of Diver magazine by John Liddiard and Max Ellis. In 1905 the 3-pounders on the forward superstructure were removed while the 3-pounders in the lower fighting tops were removed while the ship was in reserve from 190709. Portland Harbour