Persier Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
Persier Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		50 17.095 N,3 58.12 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 50.284917
  • Longitude: -3.968667
Wreck Depth 19.4 m
Water Depth 26 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name PERSIER
Type steam ship
Flag BE
Length 121.9 m
Width 15.8 m
Draught 8.5
Sonar Length 124
Sonar Width 40
Shadow Height 6.6
Tonnage 5382
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo general and mixed goods
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Feb 11, 1945
Bottom Texture Sand
Original Detection Year 1969
Last Detection Year 2010
Original Source diver
Surveying Details H1246/69 10.6.69 WK OF RIVETTED STEEL VESSEL, PROBABLY WW1 PERIOD, REPD IN 501645N, 035742W. HAS A THREE BLADED PROPELLER, BLADES IN EXCESS OF 6FT LONG. (LT CDR A BAX, RN, 8.6.69). NCA YET. 16.10.69 WK IS 300-400FT LONG WITH 50FT BEAM. LIES ON ITS SIDE WITH BOW HEADING SOUTH. CENTRE SECTION HAS COLLAPSED & BOILERS ARE VISIBLE. A 4 INCH GUN EXISTS ON STERN & 2 MACHINE GUNS SEEN ON BRIDGE. VESSEL HAS A RAKE BOW & IS FLUSH DECKED. CARGO MAY HAVE BEEN RUBBER, QUANTITIES OF RUBBER SHEETS LIE IN THE WK. (C HOPKINS, TELECON). NCA. 20.10.69 NOW REPD TO BE 300FT FROM BRIDGE TO STERN. GUN ON STERN IS DATED 1911-1919, BUT GUNS ON BRIDGE APPEAR TO DATE FROM WW2. (C HOPKINS, 20.10.69). NCA. 30.4.70 THOUGHT NOW TO BE WK OF BELGIAN SS 'PERSIER' FOLLOWING ENQUIRIES AT LLOYDS. NCA. 18.5.70 BELL, ENGRAVED 'WAR BUFFALO' RECOVERED. THIS WAS FORMER NAME OF THE 'PERSIER'. WK HAS NOW BEEN PURCHASED THROUGH BOARD OF TRADE. (C HOPKINS). NCA. H3221/70 14.8.70 WK NOT FOUND DURING SEARCH USING ARL SCANNER IN AREA WITHIN 6C OF 501645N, 035742W. MAY LIE FURTHER INSHORE. (RV 'CLIONE', MAY 1970). NCA. H4267/70 24.8.70 WK NOT FOUND, BUT A LARGE ANCHOR, 6-8FT ACROSS, WAS LOCATED. (D T B CALKIN, 18.8.70). NCA. 7.4.72 WK LOCATED IN 501650N, 035750W. (MR PAGE, BSAC KINGSBRIDGE). NCA YET. H4267/70 27.6.72 ACCEPTED POSN NOW 501700N, 035809W [OGB] FROM HSA. LIES ON HEADING 194DEGS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 46 IN GEN DEPTH 85FT. LIES ON PORT SIDE, HIGHEST PART BOWS. PROPELLER MISSING & OTHER SALVAGE HAS TAKEN PLACE. SEABED: FLAT ROCK AT N END, SAND WITH ROCKY OUTCROPS AT S. (MR PAGE, 19.6.72). CHART AS WK 14MTRS [7FMS 4FT] IN REVISED POSN. - NM 1262/72. H4267/70 8.9.72 DIVED ON 28.8.72 IN 501708N, 035806W. SUBSTANTIAL PART OF WK STANDS ABOUT 20FT HIGH. (MR CALKIN, BSAC KINGSTON). NCA. H4267/70 22.7.77 LOCATED 1.7.77 IN 501707N, 035806W [OGB]. LEAST DEPTH OBTAINED 21.5MTRS (PREDICTED TIDAL REDUCTION APPLIED). NOT FULLY EXAM'D. (HMS FAWN). NCA YET. HH100/351/07 8.7.93 DIVED 22.11.92 IN 501657.5N, 035802W [OGB] USING DECCA. LEAST E/S DEPTH 26 IN GEN DEPTH 32MTRS. NO SCOUR. LIES ON PORT SIDE WITH BOW S & STANDS 6MTRS CLEAR OF SAND SEABED. MIDSHIPS COMPLETELY BROKEN UP. 3 BOILERS STAND 3MTRS HIGH. (G PEACHAM, 30.6.93). ACCEPT HMS FAWN, 1977 POSN. BR STD. HH090/594/01 17.1.95 EXAM'D 24.11.94 IN 501703.61N, 035803.64E [OGB] USING TRISPONDER [3 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 19.4 IN GEN DEPTH 26.5MTRS. NO SCOUR. DCS3 HT 5.2MTRS. DIVER REPORTS THAT THERE IS NO MAST PROUD OF THE WK. (HMSML GLEANER, HI 594). AMEND TO WK 19.4MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. 5.6.03 WK IS COMPLETELY COLLSAPSED TO PORT. BOWS S. W SIDE OF WK IS MOSTLY HULL PLATES, E SIDE MAINLY DECK FITTINGS. (DIVER MAGAZINE, JUNE 2003). NCA. 16.8.11 EXAM'D 16.12.10 IN 5017.095N, 0358.120W [WGD] USING DGPS. LEAST M/B DEPTH 19.47 IN GEN DEPTH 26.1MTRS. NO SCOUR. LENGTH 124MTRS, WIDTH 40MTRS, HT 6.63MTRS. LIES 000/180 DEGS. COLLAPSED WITH BOILERS STANDING PROUD. (MARIN MATTEKNIK, HI 1356). RETAIN WK 19.4MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD.
Last Amended Date Aug 16, 2011

Circumstances of loss

EX-WAR BUFFALO. BUILT IN 1918 BY THE NORTHUMBERLAND SHIPBULDING CO LTD. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY COMPAGNIE MARITIME BELGE (LLOYD ROYAL). TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE OF 517 NHP. PASSAGE CARDIFF FOR ANTWERP. GENERAL CARGO OF MAINLY FOODSTUFFS. TORPEDOED BY U-1017. WAS BADLY DAMAGED & ABANDONED. DRIFTED FOR SOME HOURS BEFORE SINKING. OF CREW OF 52, SEVEN GUNNERS, COMMODORE & THREE SIGNALMEN, 20 LOST. (WW2SL, AXIS SUBMARINE SUCCESSES, DODS & LLWW2).

General Comments

COLLAPSED

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 50 17.095 N,3 58.12 W
Persier on Wreck Map Persier Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the PERSIER wreck located?

The PERSIER wreck is located at coordinates 50 17.095 N,3 58.12 W.

How deep is the PERSIER and where exactly is it located?

The PERSIER lies at a depth of about 19.4 meters and is located at coordinates 50 17.095 N,3 58.12 W.

How deep is the seabed around the PERSIER?

The seabed around the PERSIER lies at approximately 26 meters deep.

When did the PERSIER sink?

The PERSIER sank on Feb 11, 1945.

When was the wreck of the PERSIER discovered?

The wreck of the PERSIER was discovered in 1969.

What country did the PERSIER belong to?

The PERSIER belonged to BE.

What cargo was the PERSIER carrying?

The PERSIER was carrying general and mixed goods.

What was the tonnage of the PERSIER?

The PERSIER had a tonnage of 5382 tons.

What type of wreck is the PERSIER?

The PERSIER is classified as a steam ship.

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