M 343 (Probably) Wreck
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Wreck Category | dangerous wreck |
|
M 343 (probably) Wreck Location Marine Coordinates (DMM) |
49 1.244 N,2 15.26 W |
| Latitude, Longitude Decimal Degrees |
|
| Wreck Depth | 23 m |
| Water Depth | 29 m |
| Water Level Effect | always under water/submerged |
| Vertical Datum | Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide |
| Name | M 343 (PROBABLY) |
| Type | minesweeper |
| Flag | DE |
| Length | 62.5 m |
| Width | 8.5 m |
| Draught | 3 |
| Shadow Height | 4 |
| Tonnage | 543 |
| Tonnage Type | displacement |
| Conspic Visual | not visually conspicuous |
| Conspic Radar | not radar conspicuous |
| Date Sunk | Aug 6, 1944 |
| Original Detection Year | 1990 |
| Last Detection Year | 2004 |
| Original Source | diver |
| Surveying Details | HH100/351/03 5.11.90 LOCATED USING MAGNETOMETER APPROX 1M N OF GRUNE DU NORD OUEST. THOUGHT TO BE M 343. HAS SQUARE STERN, 2 COAL FIRED BOILERS, 2CM VIERINGSFLACK. ALL BROKEN FORWARD OF ENGINE ROOM EXCEPT FOR 20FT BOW SECTION WHICH IS INTACT AND LYING ON PORT SIDE. HAS THE REMAINS OF AN ACOUSTIC MINE SWEEP ON BOW. ALL BRIDGE AND DECK FORWARD OF ENGINE ROOM SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN BLOWN AWAY BY A MASSIVE EXPLOSION. SECTION AFT OF ENGINE ROOM IS UPRIGHT. LIES APPROX S/N WITH STERN S. (T A TITTERINGTON, 24.10.90). [FRENCH WK NO.14592030 REFERS]. INS AS DW PA IN 490100N, 021430W. - NM 3298/90. HH100/351/22 E22 12.1.05 DIVED IN 4901.244N, 0215.260W [WGD] USING GPS. STANDS 4MTRS HIGH BY E/S AND DEPTH GAUGE. IN TWO HALVES WITH BOWS N AND STERN S. BOWS LIE ON PORT SIDE ABOUT 10MTRS AWAY FROM STERN SECTION, ANCHOR LIES BY BOWS. STERN SECTION IS UPRIGHT AND MOSTLY COMPLETE. WK IS BROKEN MIDSHIPS AND BOILER STANDS PROUD OF THE SEABED. TWO IRON PROPS STILL IN PLACE. 88MM GUN LIES ON SEABED BY THE PORT SIDE OF THE STERN SECTION. A TORPEDO LIES ON THE SEABED OFF THE PORT SIDE OF THE STERN SECTION. CINC REQUESTED. (M ROWLEY, MV MAUREEN CHARTERS. EMAIL DTD 26.6.04). AMEND WK 23MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. SEP 2008/000048875 9.9.08 SHOWN AS WK USC PA 15MTRS IN 4900.942N, 0214.555W [WGD] ON FRENCH 7076 [1ST EDN 2008, 1:350,000]. STILL SHOWN AS DWPA ON BA 3656 [5TH EDN MAY '05] BUT CORRECTLY AS WK 23MTRS IN M ROWLEY'S POSN ON BA 2669 [7TH EDN DEC '05]. NCA. 4.2.10 4.2.10 DIVED IN 4901.241N, 0215.262W [WGD], DATE UNKNOWN. BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE M 343 BECAUSE OF ARMAMENT ETC. (K THOMAS, EMAIL DTD 29.1.10). RETAIN AS M 343 (PROBABLY), SEE ALSO [25813]. NCA. 14.7.10 14.7.10 CINC REMOVED, MORE THAN 5 YEARS. 14.7.10 14.7.10 WK IS PARTLY BROKEN, BUT MUCH OF WK REMAINS, INCLUDING TORPEDO TUBES & MAIN GUN. (DIVER MAGAZINE, AUG '10) SEP 2021/000275529 21.3.22 WK(PA) USC 15MTRS SHOWN IN 4900.929N, 0214.631W [WGD]. (FR NMBLK 40/40/21 F.472). NCA RETAIN AS DW WK 23MTRS IN 4901.244N, 0215.260W [WGD] (SEE HH100/351/21 dd 8.7.04 ABOVE). |
| Last Amended Date | Jul 8, 2004 |
Circumstances of loss
14.6.44 M343 GERMAN MINESWEEPER DAMAGED BY GUNFIRE FROM HMS ASHANTI AND POLISH DESTROYER PIORUN OFF BRITTANY 14.6.44. SCUTTLED OFF ST MALO 6.8.44. (GERMAN SURFACE VESSELS).
WRECK MAP LOADING ...
49 1.244 N,2 15.26 W
M 343 (Probably) on Wreck Map
M 343 (Probably) Wreck on Google Map
Nearby Wrecks:
- Gabrielle Wreck 6166.4 M
- Fink Wreck 6205.7 M
- Princess Ena Wreck 7538.7 M
- Wonder Wreck 9424.8 M
- Brockley Combe Wreck 10395 M
- M 343 (Possibly) Wreck 10422.4 M
- Superb Wreck 14161.9 M
- Schokland Wreck 14267.9 M
- Le Squale Wreck 14297.3 M
- Polka Wreck 14639.8 M
General Comments
TWO PARTS, BOWS N ON PORT SIDE, STERN UPRIGHT, HT BY DIVER