British Loyalty Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
British loyalty Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		0 38.433 S,73 6.95 E
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: -0.640550
  • Longitude: 73.115833
Wreck Depth 14.9 m
Water Depth 31 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name BRITISH LOYALTY
Type tanker
Flag GB
Length 139 m
Width 17.4 m
Orientation 157
Tonnage 6993
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo machinery and mechanical parts,flammable liquids and gases,oil
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Jan 15, 1946
Bottom Texture Sand
Original Detection Year 1946
Last Detection Year 2005
Original Source national HO/authority notice to mariners
Surveying Details H720/46 4.3.46 DW IN 003806S, 730730E. (C-IN-C E.I. 151759/1/46). - NM 101/46. 3.6.57 NOW CHARTED IN 003807S, 730728.5E. NC 2067. H5150/60 13.6.62 CLOSELY INVESTIGATED BY DIVERS IN 003815S, 730720E. SHIP LIES ON STARBOARD SIDE AT ANGLE OF 080DEGS TO VERTICAL. HIGHEST POINT IS PORTSIDE OF BRIDGE, WITH LEAST DEPTH OF 49FT. WK HEAVILY CORRODED & DISINTREGRATING, BUT STILL RECOGNISABLE AFTER 16 YEARS. (HMS OWEN, 1962). - NM 1145/62. H1280/76 2.1.76 WK LIES ON STARBOARD SIDE, AT ANGLE OF APPROX 80-85DEGS FROM VERTICAL. GEN DEPTH AT BOW 108FT, AT STERN 104FT. LEAST DEPTH, ABAFT THE BRIDGE, IS ABOUT 54FT. WK INTACT EXCEPT FOR FUNNEL. POSN CONFIRMED BY HSA. WK LIES 337/157DEGS WITH BOW NNW. (RAF BRIZE NORTON, CPL HARGREAVES LTR DTD 12.12.75). 18.2.76 POSN AS REPORTED BY OWEN IN 1962 WAS 120.75DEGS, 11.9C FROM SE RADIO MAST ON HITADDU I. THIS GIVES POSN 003826S, 730655E. (WRECKS OFFICER). NE 2067. H1280/76 14.7.76 ADDITIONAL DETAILS: AN OIL SLICK EXTENDS FOR 2M E, LIGHT OIL PROBABLY FROM BOW SECTION & VERY SLIGHT, MAY BE PART OF CARGO OF MT SPIRIT CARRIED IN NO.1 PORT SUMMER TANK. LIST OF ALMOST 90DEGS, WITH LOWER SIDE SETTLED 2-3MTRS INTO SEABED OF FINE SAND. GEN DEPTH AT BOW 32.5MTRS, AT STERN 31.2MTRS. LEAST DEPTH 16.2MTRS JUST ABAFT THE FLYING BRIDGE. NO SCOUR. PORTSIDE EXAMINED & FOUND GOOD. SUPERSTRUCTURE HEAVILY OVERGROWN & CORRODED, FLYING BRIDGE COLLAPSING. AT PRESENT NOT LIKELY TO BE A HAZARD TO VESSELS IN THIS AREA OF LAGOON. MORE COLLAPSE MAY LEAD TO MORE OIL LEAKAGE, WHICH MAY BE DETRIMENTAL TO MARINE LIFE. POSN FIXED BY HSA. (RAF BRIZE NORTON S.A. EXPEDITION TO ADDU ATOLL 1975, REPORT APR '76, DIVING OFFICER, M.J. HARGREAVES) 6.1.93 NOW CHARTED AS WK 14.9MTRS [LAT] IN 003826S, 730657E [WGD]. NC 2067.POSITIONS BELOW THIS POINT ARE IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND DECIMALS OF A MINUTE 30.9.10 TRI-SERVICE DIVE EXPEDITION DIVED WRECK IN JAN-FEB '04. WK LIES ON HER STARBOARD SIDE IN GEN DEPTH 34MTRS, WITH PROPELLER BLADES AT 29MTRS. EXCELLENT CORAL GROWTH ON WK, GREAT VARIETY OF MARINE LIFE INCLUDING GREEN TURTLES. MUCH OF DECK RAILING STILL EXISTS AND MOST MAIN PARTS OF THE WK ARE STILL RECOGISABLE. PROPELLER LIES IN DEPTH 23MTRS, TOP-MOST BLADE MISSING. TWO LARGE HOLES IN FRONT OF ENGINE ROOM WHERE TORPEDOES STRUCK. BRIDGE LARGELY COLLAPSED. AND LYING ON SEABED AMIDSHIPS. SPARE PROPELLERON DECK FORWARD OF ENGINE ROOM.LIFEBOAT DAVITS STILL IN PLACE. VESSEL LEAKING SMALL AMOUNTS OF OIL BUT NOT A SIGNIFICANT POLLUTION THREAT. HOWEVER THE WK SITS DIRECTLY IN PATH TO BE TAKEN BY FREIGHT VESSELS ONCE A NEW COMMERCIAL PORT IS CONSTRUCTED IN ADDU ATOLL. (WWW.RAFACTIVE.CO.UK/E26/E26POSEIDON.HTML, FOLLOWING VISIT OF DAVID BALL TO UKHO 19.9.10 & CD OF EXPEDITION RESULTS RECEIVED 30.9.10) NCA.
Last Amended Date Aug 5, 2019

Circumstances of loss

30.5.1942 BUILT IN 1928 BY PALMERS SHIPBUILDING & IRON CO, JARROW. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY BRITISH TANKER CO., ENLISTED AS A MINISTRY OF WAR TRANSPORT VESSEL. TORPEDOED 30.5.1942 AT DIEGO SUAREZ AND ABANDONED PRACTICALLY SUBMERGED. CARGO 9900 TONS ADMIRALY FUEL OIL. SOME CARGO DISCHARGED AND VESSEL WAS RAISED ABOUT 20.12.42. LEFT DIEGO SUAREZ AND MAHE ON 7.10.43 FOR ADDU ATOLL FOR USE AS A STORAGE HULK. TORPEDOED 9.3.44 BY GERMAN SUBMARINE U 183 THROUGH A GAP IN THE TORPEDO NETS BUT REPAIRED AGAIN. FINALLY SCUTTLED ON 15.1.46. WHEN SCUTTLED HAD 6417 TONS OF FUEL OIL, 43250 GALLONS OF HIGH-OCTANE & 105 TONS MT SPIRIT ON BOARD. (AUTHORITY FOR CARGO NOT KNOWN).

General Comments

LIES ON STARBOARD SIDE

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 0 38.433 S,73 6.95 E
British Loyalty on Wreck Map British Loyalty Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the BRITISH LOYALTY wreck located?

The BRITISH LOYALTY wreck is located at coordinates 0 38.433 S,73 6.95 E.

How deep is the BRITISH LOYALTY and where exactly is it located?

The BRITISH LOYALTY lies at a depth of about 14.9 meters and is located at coordinates 0 38.433 S,73 6.95 E.

How deep is the seabed around the BRITISH LOYALTY?

The seabed around the BRITISH LOYALTY lies at approximately 31 meters deep.

When did the BRITISH LOYALTY sink?

The BRITISH LOYALTY sank on Jan 15, 1946.

When was the wreck of the BRITISH LOYALTY discovered?

The wreck of the BRITISH LOYALTY was discovered in 1946.

What country did the BRITISH LOYALTY belong to?

The BRITISH LOYALTY belonged to GB.

What cargo was the BRITISH LOYALTY carrying?

The BRITISH LOYALTY was carrying machinery and mechanical parts,flammable liquids and gases,oil.

What was the tonnage of the BRITISH LOYALTY?

The BRITISH LOYALTY had a tonnage of 6993 tons.

What type of wreck is the BRITISH LOYALTY?

The BRITISH LOYALTY is classified as a tanker.

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