Ethel Radcliffe Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
Ethel radcliffe Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		52 35.137 N,1 44.722 E
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 52.585617
  • Longitude: 1.745367
Wreck Depth 6.3 m
Water Depth 7 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name ETHEL RADCLIFFE
Type steam ship
Flag GB
Length 126.5 m
Width 17.1 m
Draught 8.2
Sonar Length 90
Sonar Width 40
Tonnage 5673
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo grain
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk May 17, 1941
Bottom Texture Gravel
Original Detection Year 1941
Last Detection Year 2025
Original Source other
Surveying Details H01862/42 10.8.42 AGROUND ON HEADING 348DEGS, BROKEN IN TWO, IN 523507N, 014450E. FORE PART ON EVEN KEEL. AFTER PART UPSIDE DOWN AND VISIBLE AT LW. FOREMAST SHOWS 83FT; VENTILATORS 44FT; UPPER DECK AMIDSHIPS 3FT ABOVE MHWS. (FOIC YARMOUTH, 21.5.42). INS AS ST. - NM 1691/42. H0186/42 12.10.46 INS G CONL BUOY, GPFL(3)10S, CLOSE SE. (TH NM 116/46). - NM 3504/46. H0186/42 9.11.53 DELETE BUOY. (TH). - NM 2614/53. H01862/42 24.8.54 AMEND TO WK 1FM WITH G CONL BUOY, GPFL(3)G.10S, CLOSE SE. (TH). - NM 1854/54. H01862/42 2.11.55 AMEND BUOY TO G CONL, CLOSE E. (TH). - NM 2569/55. H01862/42 20.1.55 EXAM'D IN 523506N, 014450E USING HSA. SWEPT CLEAR AT 6, FOUL AT 7FT. LEAST E/S DEPTH 20 IN GEN DEPTH 24FT. SCOUR DEPTH 29FT. (ECES, 1954). H01862/42 12.5.58 EXAM'D IN 523506N, 014450E USING HSA AFTER DISPERSAL. SWEPT CLEAR AT 12, FOUL AT 13FT. LEAST E/S DEPTH 19 IN GEN DEPTH 26FT. (ECES, 10.10.57). AMEND TO WK 2FMS. BR STD. 20.1.60 INS AS WK 2FMS 1FT, WITH G CONL BUOY CLOSE E. NCS 1536, 1534 & 1504. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). H01862/42 13.9.60 WKGE LIES STREWN OVER AREA 300X80FT, ORIENTATED N/S. LEAST DEPTH 15 IN A 000-180DEGS DIRECTION. BOAT SURVEY CONFIRMED THIS AND INDICATED GEN DEPTHS 25-31FT [LWST]. (TH, 29.8.60). AMEND TO WK 2FMS 3FT WITH BUOY. BR STD. 20.6.62 DISPERSAL CONTRACT PLACED WITH UNDERWATER WELDERS & REPAIRS LTD. H01862/42 11.12.62 AREA NOW CLEAR AT 20, FOUL AT 21FT. NOW A TANGLED MASS OF PLATES, GIRDERS AND BEAMS WITH ISOLATED PIECES STANDING ABOVE MAIN BODY OF WK. (THL 1573/61). AMEND TO WK 3FMS 2FT. DELETE BUOY. - NM 2652/62. H2358/65 2.9.65 EXAM'D IN 523512N, 014443E USING HSA. LEAST E/S DEPTH 21 IN GEN DEPTH 23FT. SCOUR DEPTH 26FT. (HMS EGERIA, 3.6.65). AMEND POSN. - NM 1613/65. H3570/67 29.11.67 LOCATED IN 523515N, 014445E. LEAST DEPTH NOW 3FMS 3FT. GOOD SONAR FROM SE. (HMS ECHO, R-OF-S DTD 15.9.67). AMEND DEPTH. BR STD. H3570/67 14.11.69 H3570/67 & H6405/68 EXAM'D 25.9.69 IN 523508N, 014450E USING HSA. SWEPT CLEAR 5.1, FOUL 5.3MTRS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 5.6 IN GEN DEPTH 6.8-9MTRS. (HMS ECHO, HI 357/69). AMEND TO WK SW 2FMS 4FT IN REVISED POSN. BR STD.H4403/71 20.9.71 EXAM'D IN 523509N, 014445E [OGB] USING HIFIX/6 [2 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 5.9 IN GEN DEPTH 8MTRS. NUMEROUS PEAKS DETECTED. (HMS ECHO, 9.6.71). NCA. H4403/71 7.11.73 EXAM'D IN 523513N, 014444E [OGB] USING HIFIX/6 [2 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 6.0 IN GEN DEPTH 8MTRS. SCOUR DEPTH 8.7MTRS. SMALL WK ABOUT 200MTRS NW OF CHARTED POSN. SONAR DETECTED MANY PINNACLES IN AREA. (HMS ENTERPRISE). NCA. H4658/71 10.11.77 NOT CLOSELY EXAM'D. APPEARS TO BE VERY BROKEN UP FROM DCS3 TRACE. E/S SHOWS THAT WK STANDS ONLY ABOUT 2MTRS PROUD OF SEABED. (HMS ENTERPRISE, HI 55/77). NCA. H2339/84 26.6.85 EXAM'D 30.4.85 IN 523508N, 014450E [OGB] USING TRISPONDER [4 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 6.6 IN GEN DEPTH 8MTRS. SCOUR DEPTH 8.8MTRS. BROKEN UP AND SCATTERED WKGE GIVING LARGE MAGNETIC ANOMALY. (NP 1016, HI 249). RETAIN SWEPT DEPTH. HH090/513/01 12.6.91 EXAM'D 7.4.91 IN 523507N, 014451E [OGB] USING TRISPONDER [4 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 6.3 IN GEN DEPTH 6.5MTRS. GAVE NO SONAR SHADOW AND ASSUMED TO BE ALMOST COMPLETELY BURIED. GAVE MAGNETOMETER DEFLECTION. (NP 1016, HI 513). RETAIN AS CHARTED. HH090/846/01 14.5.99 EXAM'D 8.4.99 IN 5235.132N, 0144.722E [WGD] USING DGPS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 6MTRS. NO SCOUR. LENGTH 90MTRS, WIDTH 40MTRS. NO DCS3 HT. NO DEBRIS. LARGE MAGNETIC ANOMALY. WELL BROKEN UP AND ALMOST ENTIRELY BURIED. (NP 1016, HI 846). AMEND TO WK 6MTRS IN 5235.105N, 0144.832E [OGB]. BR STD. 18.5.2006 EUT POSN: 5235.132N, 0144.722E. NE 1536. SEP2017/000280867 01.09.16 LOCATED IN 5235.143N 0144.719E [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 6.3MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 8MTRS. NFS.(ENVIRONMENT AGENCY PROJECT PM_1694). AMEND TO WRECK 6.3MTRS, MOVE TO REVISED POSITION. SEP2018/000224666 24.09.18 LOCATED IN 5235.142N 0144.724E [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 6.6MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 8.2MTRS. NFS. (GREAT YARMOUTH PORT AUTHORITY SURVEY 19.02.18). RETAIN EXISITING DEPTH. NCA. SEP2020/000128270 15.6.20 LOCATED IN 5235.127N 0144.727E [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 6.8MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 8.2MTRS. NFS. (GREAT YARMOUTH PORT AUTHORITY SURVEY 22.10.19). RETAIN EXISITING DEPTH IN REVISED POSN. RSDRA2023000074740 16.5.23 NOT LOCATED IN M/B DATASET (GREAT YARMOUTH PORT AUTHORITY SURVEY, 2022). NFA. RSDRA2024000274574 13.11.24 LOCATED IN M/B DATASET (2024). LEAST M/B DEPTH 6.66MTRS. DEEPER THAN CHARTED. NFS. (PEEL PORTS GREAT YARMOUTH SURVEY, DTD 21.08.24). RETAIN DW 6.3MTRS. RSDRA2025000327160 27.06.25 LOCATED IN M/B DATASET 2025. LEAST M/B DEPTH 6.61 MTRS. DEEPER THAN CHARTED. NFS. (PEEL PORTS GREAT YARMOUTH SURVEY, DTD 01.04.2025). RETAIN DW 6.3MTRS.
Last Amended Date Jun 27, 2025

Circumstances of loss

20.5.41 TORPEDOED AND DAMAGED BY GERMAN E-BOAT AND BEACHED N OF N PIER, YARMOUTH. LATER BOMBED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND ON 20.5.41 CONSIDERED NO LONGER SALVABLE. 2000 TONS OF CARGO WAS SALVED. (LLOYDS WAR LOSSES).

General Comments

WELL BROKEN AND BURIED WRECKAGE

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 52 35.137 N,1 44.722 E
Ethel Radcliffe on Wreck Map Ethel Radcliffe Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the ETHEL RADCLIFFE wreck located?

The ETHEL RADCLIFFE wreck is located at coordinates 52 35.137 N,1 44.722 E.

How deep is the ETHEL RADCLIFFE and where exactly is it located?

The ETHEL RADCLIFFE lies at a depth of about 6.3 meters and is located at coordinates 52 35.137 N,1 44.722 E.

How deep is the seabed around the ETHEL RADCLIFFE?

The seabed around the ETHEL RADCLIFFE lies at approximately 7 meters deep.

When did the ETHEL RADCLIFFE sink?

The ETHEL RADCLIFFE sank on May 17, 1941.

When was the wreck of the ETHEL RADCLIFFE discovered?

The wreck of the ETHEL RADCLIFFE was discovered in 1941.

What country did the ETHEL RADCLIFFE belong to?

The ETHEL RADCLIFFE belonged to GB.

What cargo was the ETHEL RADCLIFFE carrying?

The ETHEL RADCLIFFE was carrying grain.

What was the tonnage of the ETHEL RADCLIFFE?

The ETHEL RADCLIFFE had a tonnage of 5673 tons.

What type of wreck is the ETHEL RADCLIFFE?

The ETHEL RADCLIFFE is classified as a steam ship.

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