Hms Bittern Wreck
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Wreck Category | non-dangerous wreck |
|
Hms bittern Wreck Location Marine Coordinates (DMM) |
50 18.18 N,3 0.063 W |
| Latitude, Longitude Decimal Degrees |
|
| Wreck Depth | 51 m |
| Water Depth | 55 m |
| Water Level Effect | always under water/submerged |
| Vertical Datum | Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide |
| Name | HMS BITTERN |
| Type | destroyer |
| Flag | GB |
| Length | 64.3 m |
| Width | 6.7 m |
| Sonar Length | 31 |
| Sonar Width | 17 |
| Shadow Height | 3.2 |
| Tonnage | 360 |
| Tonnage Type | displacement |
| Conspic Visual | not visually conspicuous |
| Conspic Radar | not radar conspicuous |
| Date Sunk | Apr 4, 1918 |
| Bottom Texture | Sand |
| Original Detection Year | 1999 |
| Last Detection Year | 2003 |
| Original Source | diver |
| Surveying Details | HH100/351/01 10.7.89 HMS BITTERN'S LAST REPORTED POSN WAS 10M SSE FROM BERRY HEAD AT 0200. COLLISION TOOK PLACE AT 0315 WITH SS KENILWORTH WHICH HAD BEEN STEERING A COURSE OF W 0.5 S ACROSS LYME BAY FROM OFF PORTLAND, AT 11 KNOTS. (C DAVIES, 19.6.89). HH100/351/14 8.9.99 DIVED IN 5018.20N, 0300.0W [OGB] USING DECCA. WK LIES BROKEN UP ON AND E/W AXIS. THE MAIN WRECKAGE IN THE QUOTED POSN COMPRISES ONE DAMAGED BOILER, THE TWO ENGINES AND ASSOCIATED PIPEWORK. THE PROPS ARE ALSO IN SITU. THE BOW SECTION IS WELL BROKEN UP AND THIS AND THE OTHER BOILERS AND PARTLY BURIED IN SILT. THE IMPACT WITH SS KENILWORTH APPEARS TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON THE PORT SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE AFTERMOST BOILER. HMS BITTERN WAS CUT IN TWO WITH NO SURVIVORS. (N R CHIPCHASE). INS AS NDW. BR STD. HH090/961/01 10.12.03 EXAM'D 21.6.03 IN 5018.180N, 0300.063W [WGD] USING DGPS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 51.6 IN GEN DEPTH 55MTRS. NO SCOUR. LENGTH 31MTRS, WIDTH 17MTRS. DCS3 HT 3.2MTRS. LIES 000/180 DEGS. POOR MAGNETIC ANOMALY. BADLY BROKEN UP AND PARTIALLY COVERED WITH SEDIMENT. (GARDLINE, HI 961). AMEND WK 51MTRS. BR STD. |
| Last Amended Date | Dec 10, 2003 |
Circumstances of loss
BUILT IN 1897 BY VICKERS. A 'C' CLASS DESTROYER. TWO TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINES OF 5700NHP, TWIN SHAFT. ONE 12PDR, FIVE 6PDR GUNS, 2 TORPEDO TUBES. SANK FOLLOWING A COLLISION WITH SS KENILWORTH. CUT IN TWO AND SANK WITH NO SURVIVORS. (COLLEDGE & SIBI).
Nearby Wrecks:
- Hms Bittern (Parts Of)(Probably) Wreck 110.1 M
- Rotorua Wreck 651.8 M
- Tandil (Probably) Wreck 1011.7 M
- Kongshaug (Probably) Wreck 2268.9 M
- Hms Manor Wreck 2992.9 M
- Pergo Wreck 3293.8 M
- Pomella Wreck 3373.9 M
- Chorley Wreck 4081.2 M
- Sailing Vessel Wreck 48293 4649.7 M
- Majorca Wreck 4700.9 M
General Comments
WELL BROKEN UP, PARTY BURIED